Parks in New York

80 people recommend, 30 warn against itvia r/newyorkcity, r/AskNYC, r/Brooklyn

Most commenters recommend Central Park. Several suggest exploring it on foot rather than by pedicab or bike, and spots people name include Bethesda Terrace, Bow Bridge, the Ramble and Strawberry Fields. Several commenters point to Sheep Meadow, one saying it arguably has the best grass in the city. One recommends the north end (North Woods, Great Hill, Conservatory Garden), where fewer tourists go, and another calls the Conservatory Garden the park's best-kept secret. One visitor praises the quiet, nature-like feel of some of its paths and hills. Crowds vary: one commenter says it draws huge spring weekend crowds but can feel empty on very hot summer days, and another was surprised to find it deserted in mid-August. Two commenters are unhappy with dog behavior, and a couple call it overrated.

28 people recommend, 11 warn against itvia r/Brooklyn, r/nyc, r/AskNYC

Most commenters recommend Prospect Park, and several say they prefer it to Central Park. One commenter says its grand meadow is much larger than Central Park's Sheep Meadow, and one long-time runner says it got much better once it was closed to traffic, though another runner finds its single loop a drawback. One commenter says it draws huge crowds on sunny spring weekends but can feel empty on very hot summer days. Several commenters say some sides of the park are poorly kept or littered, and a couple raise encampments as a concern.

19 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/AskNYC, r/nyc

Many visitors recommend Riverside Park, a waterfront park on Manhattan's West Side. One visitor says spring picnics by the river beat eating at a restaurant, another lists biking, benches by the water and basketball as things to do, and one visitor points to a natural beachfront farther north. Caveats include one visitor who says a freeway runs through it and two who note its length, one of whom says that may keep it from feeling big. Another visitor would like the ball fields, field 8 in particular, renewed and opened to the public.

13 people recommendvia r/AskNYC

Many people recommend Inwood Hill Park, and two describe it as the last remaining patch of original forest in Manhattan. Two people say it can make you forget you are in the city, and one visitor who hiked its dirt trails said it felt like being upstate. Several people name it among their favorite parks, and one calls it gorgeous. One visitor suggests going when there is plenty of snow.

11 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/AskNYC, r/nyc

Most commenters recommend Fort Tryon Park. One visitor praises its river views and Heather Gardens, another calls its flower garden amazing, and one suggests it for a glimpse of what Manhattan looked like before development. One visitor notes that a main road runs through the park but says traffic is not heavy enough to spoil a visit.

10 people recommendvia r/AskNYC

Many people name Van Cortlandt Park as a favorite, and a few describe it as huge, one of them calling it lived-in, a place where people spend time. One commenter says a freeway cuts through the park, which they feel takes away from an otherwise very good set of city parks.

8 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/newyorkcity, r/nyc, r/AskNYC

Many commenters recommend the High Line. Two call it great, one says they love it, and one visitor really enjoyed their time there. One says it has plenty of unusual plants to see on a walk through, and another finds it more ecologically varied than Prospect Park, though smaller. One commenter calls it a tourist trap that steers visitors toward nearby attractions.

6 people recommendvia r/AskNYC

Several commenters praise Fort Greene Park, and one visitor calls it small but very pretty. One commenter says its monument is the biggest Revolutionary War monument in the US. Several commenters mention people sunbathing there, including one who sees it daily on the big lawn. One visitor notes that it fills up on warm days and suggests bringing something to lie on, since the grass is rough in places.

6 people recommendvia r/AskNYC

Several visitors recommend Astoria Park. One calls it underrated, with great Manhattan skyline views and far fewer people than the three big parks, another says the park has a pool, and one finds it pretty nice.

5 people recommendvia r/AskNYC, r/Brooklyn

Several people recommend Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx, and some name it among their favorite parks. One visitor calls it acceptable but not especially impressive, and another says a freeway cuts through it, which they feel detracts from otherwise good parks. Overall, the recommendations outweigh the mixed views.

5 people recommendvia r/AskNYC, r/nyc

Several people recommend Brooklyn Bridge Park, and one ranks it a close second to Central Park. One visitor says they have spent relaxed solo days there, and another counts it among their favorite views, along with DUMBO.

5 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/AskNYC, r/nyc

Five visitors recommend Morningside Park, a hilly park that one visitor says is not huge but feels big and wild. That visitor likes the walk along Morningside Drive, the turtle pond and the playgrounds, and another says its northern section near the waterfall can be very nice.