Parks and Recreation
StephanieC on Oct 16th 2013
Whether you love it or you hate it, fall is here and in full effect. I myself am not a fan of cold weather, but I can appreciate the beauty that comes with the fall season. The changing of the city’s color scheme and the adapting of the fashion to fit the chilly needs… this is exciting to me. Walking down the streets in my neighborhood I realized that leaves are changing their colors and even blowing in the breeze in a soft goodbye to summer. This had me thinking… why not have a picnic in the park. I know I previously mentioned my first picnic in Central Park, but there are other beautiful in parks in NYC that have not been given the proper attention.
In Washington Heights, there is the beautiful Fort Tryon Park. There is a beautiful garden at the top and plenty of trails at street level. There is a tower at the top that has beautiful sight lines of the Hudson River and NJ. If you are someone that likes to hike, the trip to the top of the park is beautiful and once at the top, you are rewarded with breathtaking views and the aromatic sweetness of the season’s flowers in bloom. If not in the mood to hike, the A train has an option of getting off at the bottom or the top of the hill.
Fort Tryon Park Garden – taken by Marcia Garibaldi
Central Park is always a good go-to park since it does offer many different areas with distinct scenery. There is Sheep Meadow that is like a big open field. And there are different bodies of water that offer beautiful views and some cool bridges. You can plan a picnic surrounded by the tall trees and amazing landscapes, or you can go on a walking tour thanks to a new app that they have. You can wander around all day long without the fear of falling down the rabbit hole and getting lost forever.
Fall in Central Park – taken by Malcolm Pickney
Although Washington Square Park is a small park, there is always a free show going on. Surrounded by the artsy NYU community, there are always performers showing off their musical skill, or highly coordinated dancers. There are even artists that portray a beautiful picture with different colored sand on the cement. You can indulge in some fine NYC cuisine: hot dogs and pretzels. Or you can visit any of the local restaurants. There are places that can fulfill any craving. If you take a small walk to St. Marks place, there is the infamous dollar pizza. In this case you do not get what you pay for: you get SO much MORE. It is worth it. Enjoy your food in the park on a blanket or on the benches. It is a great park to sit down and watch the bustling crowds walk in and out of the park. It is a piece of tranquility in the middle of a busy area. Be careful with the NYU students going from class to class: they will run you over!
Washington Sq Park in the Fall – taken by Jeffrey Bary
In order to escape into a completely different world, where you do not even notice you are in New York City, visit Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. It has huge open fields, a fresh water lake, woodsy hiking trails and even an outdoor pool to cool off in those NYC summer heat waves. This park holds a lot of races because of its laid out track and a lot of sport events since they have many open fields. There are picnic areas and areas where you can hide out and escape from everyone and everything. They are even the home of the first public golf course if that tickles your fancy. They have a historical house that you can tour for $5 for adults and $3 for students and seniors (children under 12 are free) although Wednesdays are free.
Van Cortlandt Park Lake in the Fall – taken by Malcolm Pickney
All five boroughs have so many different parks with so many different options. I am sure that you can find one that fits you and your interests. The best thing is that they are all free. During this season it is great just to take a stroll in the park and take some time out of the hustle and bustle of the city and appreciate what is going on around us.
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2 Responses to “Parks and Recreation”
You are right about the Van Cortlandt Park. It really doesn’t feel like you’re in NYC when you’re there. Thanks for your suggestions, these are all great places to visit.
I used to work near Central Park, and would go there for exercise. As a kid, it never struck to me how huge the park was. My biggest pet peeve about it was how many people were there most of the time. It was terribly hard to find a place to be in private, despite the park’s massive size.
Also, I miss the ducks. What happened to the ducks?!