If you visit New York in the summer, you’re likely to hop from air-conditioned building to air-conditioned building to escape the humidity of the city’s streets. However, there are plenty of outside spaces that provide more enjoyable refuges from the heat. Almost 14 per cent of New York is covered in green spaces so there really is no excuse to stay cooped up inside. Embrace the outdoors, get out of your New York apartment and enjoy one these remarkable parks.
Here is a roundup of the best parks New York has to offer.
Central Park
The most visited park in the US and known around the world, this 843 acre park in the centre of Manhattan is a great place to spend the day. Its vast spaces and tall trees allow you to forget that you are in a city at all.
Brooklyn Bridge Park
This park is on the east side of the river, offering spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline and Brooklyn Bridge. The park spans the waterfront and includes six piers. It is also worth taking a look at Jane’s Carousel, a 1922 merry-go-round housed in an airy, transparent pavilion. In the summer Brooklyn Bridge also often holds outdoor film screenings – the perfect way to spend a summer’s evening.
The High Line
Opening in 2009, this park is slightly different from the others as it sits on an elevated infrastructure that was built in Manhattan’s West Side in the 1930s. At first, this elevated track was open to trains, allowing them to pass through the centre of blocks. The railway track is now a walkway filled with grass and plants and offers unusual views of the city and the Hudson River.
Riverside Park
A scenic waterfront park in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, Riverside Park has many facilities including sports courts, a skate park and bike paths. If you are a film fanatic it may be worth taking a stroll to the promenade at 91st Street – the meeting place of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan at the end of the film You’ve Got Mail.
Hudson River Park
Hudson River Park is the largest waterfront park in the United States, stretching from Battery Park to 59th Street. Within it you can cycle, skate or simply stroll alongside the Hudson River while taking in views of New Jersey. The park has many recreational facilities including kayak rides on the river, tennis and basketball courts.
Pelham Bay Park
Located in the northeast corner and extending partly into Westchester County, this public park is the largest in New York City. It is three times larger than Central Park and takes hours to explore. Its main attractions include Orchard Beach and the recently renovated Pelham Bay Golf Course.
Botanical Garden
Unlike the parks above, you will have to pay for the privilege of visiting this one. It may seem worth it though, once you have seen its many banana trees, moth orchids and 50-acre tract of immaculate forest.
I started this website – Thecityvisitor.com to share my love of travel, help others discover more breathtaking destinations, and hopefully inspire you to go on your very own adventures. With five years of experience as a dedicated tour guide, I have honed my expertise in unraveling the hidden gems and untold stories of various destinations. This invaluable experience, coupled with my creative flair for storytelling, has catapulted them into the world of travel writing, where I offer readers a unique and authentic perspective on the places they visit. 
