Bennett Park in Northern Manhattan, New York City, can be found at Fort Washington Avenue, West 183 Street and Pinehurst Avenue, in Washington Heights. It is a park that can be found on top of a hill.
What’s at Bennett Park in NYC
The rectangular park in Fort Washington is a nice space that people can enjoy. It is built on the highest point in Manhattan and has various facilities for park goers to enjoy.
Amongst the facilities at Bennett Park at Fort Washington is a playground that kids 10 and below can enjoy. The playground was last renovated in 2000.
There are also park benches and open spaces for those who may wish to pack a picnic and eat outdoors.
You may also occasionally find events like performances being held in the park.
Bennett Park, Historic Park in Northern Manhattan
Bennett Park is full of history.
It is named after James Gordon Bennett (1795-1872) who was a newspaper man. As a publisher and editors, he is considered to be a pioneer in American journalism.
Bennett Park opened in 1929. The Bennett Park playground was opened in the 1940s and the toilet facilities at the park opened in 1964.
Some of the features that make Bennett Park particularly significant include schist formations at Bennett Park. This is an example of the bedrock on which the skyscrapers of the city of New York on Manhattan is built on.
Bennett Park’s enormous rock formation is a good example of the Manhattan schist bedrock beneath. Schist can be distinguished by its glittering appearance as it contains white mica flecks.
The highest natural point in Manhattan can be found at Bennett Park. This is marked by a simple stone marker that states the height as 265.05 feet above sea level.
Another significant monument within Bennett Park is the Fort Washington Memorial. This was erected in 1901 and can be found on the southeastern side of the park. This memorial was renovated in 2005.
The memorial is to commemorate the site of Fort Washington, a fort built in the northern section of Manhattan to defend New York against the British. It saw action during the Revolutionary War. However, in 1776, the British assaulted Fort Washington and captured it along with American prisoners. It was renamed Fort Knyphasen.
This is why a cannon still stands at Bennett Park, close to a flagpole, along with the memorial stone marker. This is a short distance away, across a field from the playground.
The outline of the fort’s location is marked out by stones.
Bennett Park is a nice little gem hidden away in the Washington Heights neighbourhood.
