As the dog days of summer approach, make the most out of these last bits of sunshine in some of Manhattan’s best green spaces that are perhaps not as well known (or crowded!) as our crown jewel, Central Park.
1. The smallest park in New York City is located in the heart of the Upper West Side.
2. Head uptown to Manhattan’s tippy-top neighborhood of Inwood to Ft. Tryon Park (also home to the Cloisters, Heather Gardens, and a HUGE dog run!)
3. Fancy a 25 foot waterfall in Midtown, anyone?
4. The Highline is a downtown staple, where kids and adults alike can hardly resist a little water play. And stargazing! And movies projected on buildings! And music, constantly! Too much fun, I tell you.
5. A quiet place to sit with your book and organic juice can be found in Nolita’s Elizabeth Street Garden.
6. Battery Park is packed with playgrounds and plenty of picnic spots for you and your littles.
7. The Museum of Modern Art allows visitors to use its sculpture gardens, sans the ticket price. #artwin
8. Hudson River Park is the perfect place for water enthusiasts, because, free kayaking!
9. An acre of green space, elevated. A bit hidden, but every bit worth the visit, especially for its views of the Brooklyn Bridge.
10. The East Village’s Creative Little Garden is a change of pace from Starbucks for freelancers, and also a lovely place to volunteer your time if flowers are your jam.
Do you have a favorite green space in Manhattan or in your city? Share below!
Jessica Tiare Bowen lives in the juicy Big Apple with her adorable pink-nosed chihuahua, Gillman. He’s the inspiration for her first published children’s book, “Park Avenue Pound Puppy.” The book is the combined result of her two greatest passions: pooches and penning stories.
Her passions include art, urban hikes through Manhattan, drinking coffee with 3 creams and 6 sugars, making extremely detailed itineraries and traveling to far away places, singing along to Broadway shows, Netflix movie nights, discovering incredible treasures at Goodwill and thrift stores, and listening to stories from little people under 7 and big people over 70.
She started her career as New York City Teaching Fellow, teaching elementary school and theater arts at a special education school in the South Bronx for 6 years. She is now a Special Education School Improvement Specialist working in public schools throughout New York City. She is the Editor-In-Chief of the online New York City travel magazine, Used York City. The magazine focuses on finding the best of New York…as used by New Yorkers. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and an ASPCA Ambassador.
