Planning a visit to New York City? Wondering what are some of the famous parks in New York that you can visit? We run down five parks that you should know about if you are planning a visit to the Big Apple.
Here are five famous parks in New York that you would likely come across or that you can plan to pay a visit.
6 Famous Parks in New York
Central Park
The most famous park in New York, and quite possibly the world, is Central Park.
Located in the middle of Manhattan, New York City, Central Park covers and area of 1.3 square miles or 3.41 square km. South to North, it runs all the way from 59th street to 110th street, and is bounded by 8th Avenue and 5th Avenue.
Central Park is one of the most filmed locations in the city and has appeared in more than 500 movies.
Iconic sights within this famous New York park include Strawberry Fields, Belvedere Castle, Bow Bridge and the Alice in Wonderland statue. You will find numerous lakes, fields and picturesque places around Central Park.
The Park is so large that you can easily spend a whole day at Central Park if you wanted to see all of it.
For those visiting with kids, there is a zoo within Central Park and both kids and grown-ups can enjoy the park’s famous Carousel by climbing aboard one of its 57 gorgeous horses.
You can find out more about this famous park at the Central Park website.
The Battery
Formerly known as Battery Park, The Battery is a destination that those planning a visit to Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty will be familiar with.
Located at Lower Manhattan, The Battery is the embarkation point for the Statue Cruises that offers daily ferries to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
It is also where you can board the Staten Island Ferry.
But while many will just pass through The Battery, it is also worth visiting in itself. You can enjoy the Battery Woodland and the other Gardens at this famous park.
One of the attractions is SeaGlass, a unique carousel ride themed after a chambered nautilus that pays tribute to the original New York Aquarium that first opened at Battery Park in 1896.
Across from Battery Park is Bowling Green, the oldest park in New York City and where you can find the iconic Charging Bull statue.
You can learn more about what to do at The Battery.
Coney Island
Moving away from Manhattan, another famous New York park of a different sort is Coney Island. This seaside neighbourhood is located in the borough of Brooklyn and is famous worldwide for its amusement park.
One of the best known and beloved features at Coney Island’s Luna Park amusement park is the Cyclone roller coaster. Dating back to 1927, the wooden roller coaster has been thrilling generations of visitors with its drops and turns and is even recognized as a National Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a piece of history that will thrill you.
While at Coney Island, be sure to try funnel cakes, a quintessential seaside bite.
Find out more about what to expect at Coney Island’s Luna Park.
Brooklyn Bridge Park
Brooklyn Bridge Park is a waterfront park that look out across the East River to Lower Manhattan. In fact, that’s one of main reasons that makes this New York City park famous – the views of the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty.
The lawns and waterfront promenade are great if you wish to escape away from the bustle of the city. Look out for free movie screenings in the park in the summer.
There are numerous Brooklyn Bridge Park playgrounds all along the 1.3 mile or 2.1 km long shoreline. Another one of the attractions at Brooklyn Bridge Park is Jane’s Carousel, a restored carousel ride.
You can reach the park by crossing the Brooklyn Bridge. It also extends all the way north to the Manhattan Bridge and DUMBO.
Just beside the park is Time Out Market New York, a trendy eating spot with local food and drink.
Learn more about Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Bryant Park
Another famous New York park is Bryant Park and it is all about location. Bryant Park bills itself as Midtown Manhattan’s town square.
This New York City park is located between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue and between 40th and 42 Streets. It is a short walk away from the world famous Times Square.
While it isn’t a very large park, it is still a hub of activity.
The manicured lawns at Bryant Park play host to movie nights in the summer and in the winter, you can look forward to visiting a Christmas Village within the park. There is also a free skating rink at Bryant Park, but the catch is that you will have to bring along your own skates, if not you will have to rent them.
Another activities that are often held at Bryant Park include yoga and pétanque games.
There are also several eateries located at the park. These range from full meals at the Bryant Park Grill to cafes like Le Pain Quotidien where simple meals are available for purchase. Stop by Joe Coffee Company for your daily brew or Wafels & Dinges for a satisfying Belgian waffle.
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Located in Queens, Flushing Meadows Corona Park is famous as being the site of the 1939 and 1964 World’s Fairs. The most iconic structure from that period is the Unisphere, the 140 foot or 42 meter high stainless steel globe that is a hold over from those days. It is located at the center of the park.
In 2023, some of structures at Flushing Meadows has also been give new decorative lighting.
You can also go boating on Meadow Lake in from March to November. Head over to Wheel Fun Rentals Meadow Lake on the northern end of Meadow Lake to rent a boat, or to rent a bike to tour this famous New York park on two wheels.
Another attraction of the park is the Queens Zoo. Or pay a visit to the Queens Museum and be awed by its huge panoramic model the City of New York, made up of thousands of pieces.
Bronx Park
The Bronx Park is one of New York City’s hidden gems. With the Bronx River flowing through the park, it is home to various flora and fauna.
One of the reasons to visit the Bronx Park is the New York Botanical Garden, a gorgeous place to visit for an outdoor walk. It is especially popular in spring when the cherry blossoms are blooming or when there is a flower show going on at other times of the year.
The Bronx Zoo is also located within Bronx Park. Pay a visit to view lions, gorillas, elephants, tortoises and more. You can hop onboard the monorail to get an overview of the Zoo before exploring it on foot.
For those who love nature, it is possible to also do a trek along the course of the Bronx River from Bronx Park, past Starlight Park, down to Soundview Park.
