Nyc Parks

The ‘great trees’ of NYC: Parks updates list for the first time in 40 years

An American Elm in Tompkins Square Park. All photos courtesy of NYC Parks / Malcolm Pinckney

October 8, 2024

The ‘great trees’ of NYC: Parks updates list for the first time in 40 years

By Aaron Ginsburg

Of New York City's seven million trees, these 120 rise above the rest. NYC Parks on Tuesday released its first update to the "Great Trees of New York City" list since 1985, adding 61 new trees across the five boroughs that stand out for their unique size, shape, species, and historical significance. The newcomers were selected from over 270 public submissions made between April 2023 and March 2024 and chosen by a committee of experts from colleges, civic institutions, authors, and arborists.
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City Living

NYC installs pizza box bins at city parks

Images courtesy of NYC Parks

August 30, 2024

NYC installs pizza box bins at city parks

By Aaron Ginsburg

Ahead of pizza parties and picnics this holiday weekend, New York City has installed trash cans designed to fit pizza boxes at six city parks. The city's Parks Department on Friday unveiled the new rectangular trash bins, which feature a classic red-and-white checkered design reminiscent of tablecloths in pizzerias. As first seen in Central Park earlier this summer, the receptacles help avoid trash pileups that often attract rats.
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Policy

The 15 best parks in NYC for outdoor grilling

Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels

August 28, 2024

The 15 best parks in NYC for outdoor grilling

By Devin Gannon

While our tiny apartments and fire escapes may not always be the greatest spots to host a barbecue, the city's parks provide some of the best places to dine on hamburgers and hot dogs this holiday. Ahead, 6sqft rounded up 15 of the best NYC parks to host outdoor barbecues, from old standby Prospect Park to less-known locales like Staten Island's Clove Lakes Park.
Fin the best BBQ spots in your neighborhood

13 places to go hiking in New York City

Photo of Marine Park via Wikimedia

July 24, 2024

13 places to go hiking in New York City

By Devin Gannon

Forget the rental car or Metro-North trip, all you need to go hiking is subway or bus fare. Home to over 30,000 acres of parkland, New York City offers hundreds of nature trails to explore in parks across the five boroughs. New Yorkers do not have to travel very far to connect with the great outdoors, from the Staten Island Greenbelt, which is three times the size of Central Park, to ecologically diverse forests in Van Cortlandt Park, to the salt marshes of Marine Park Preserve. Ahead, discover some of the best trails to hike in every borough.
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NYC launches $3.2B ‘Vital Parks’ plan to improve green spaces

Photo courtesy of Santosh Janardhanan on Flickr

June 20, 2024

NYC launches $3.2B ‘Vital Parks’ plan to improve green spaces

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City is making moves to bolster its public green space for the future. The city's Parks Department on Thursday unveiled Vital Parks for All, a $3.2 billion initiative to preserve existing park facilities, expand accessibility in underserved communities, and help New Yorkers understand the health of their local park. To accompany the plan, NYC Parks has released an interactive map comparing park access among neighborhoods across the city.
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Policy

The best spots to see fall foliage in NYC

October 25, 2023

The best spots to see fall foliage in NYC

By Devin Gannon

The beautiful yet fleeting season of fall has officially begun in New York City. While a trip to the Catskill or Adirondack mountains makes for a fun weekend, New Yorkers don't have to travel outside city limits to enjoy the colorful fall foliage. Typically, peak foliage in the city takes place at the end of October through early November and lasts only a few days. Ahead, find some of the best parks and gardens across the five boroughs to take in the beauty of the season.
See the list

Events & Things To Do

Work begins on Studio Gang-designed Shirley Chisholm Rec Center in Brooklyn

Rendering of the Shirley Chisholm Recreational Center in East Flatbush. Credit: New York City Department of Design and Construction

October 17, 2023

Work begins on Studio Gang-designed Shirley Chisholm Rec Center in Brooklyn

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new recreation center that will serve as a hub for learning, fitness, and recreation is coming to East Flatbush. City officials on Monday broke ground on the $141 million Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center, a new facility named after the late congresswoman and Brooklyn native who was the first Black woman ever elected to Congress. Located in Nostrand Playground, the roughly 62,000-square-foot center will feature a public plaza, indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, walking track, commercial teaching kitchen, and a media lab.
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Architecture And Design

NYC announces major public space and transit improvements for Downtown Brooklyn

Image courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

July 20, 2023

NYC announces major public space and transit improvements for Downtown Brooklyn

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City is investing over $40 million in street safety improvements and new public spaces in Downtown Brooklyn. On Thursday Mayor Eric Adams said the investment will be put towards transformative improvements along Fulton Street and Flatbush Avenue, with plans for improved pedestrian space, bus service, new public art, and safety upgrades to the streetscape.
More here

Electric bikes and scooters now allowed in NYC parks

Photo courtesy of Shinya Suzuki on Flickr

June 20, 2023

Electric bikes and scooters now allowed in NYC parks

By Devin Gannon

Starting Tuesday, electric bikes and scooters will be allowed inside New York City parks. As part of a yearlong pilot program overseen by the city's Parks Department, e-bike and e-scooter riders can use greenways and park drives, including the Central Park and Prospect Park loops. The pilot will run through May 31, 2024.
Details here

New York City’s best spots for bird watching

Birdwatching in Prospect Park, courtesy of the Prospect Park Alliance on Flickr

June 15, 2023

New York City’s best spots for bird watching

By Devin Gannon

With hundreds of parks and over 500 miles of waterfront, New York City is an excellent place for bird watching. The five boroughs serve as a temporary and permanent home to over 400 species of bird, thanks to both habitat diversity and location on the Atlantic Flyway, the route birds follow during migrations. From Pelham Bay Park in the northeast Bronx down to Great Kills Park on the South Shore of Staten Island, there is no shortage of birding activities in New York. We've rounded up the best places to find feathered friends throughout the city, most of which are accessible via public transportation. For guided bird-watching tours and walks, check out events from NYC Parks, NYC Audubon, and the Linnaean Society of New York.
Full list ahead

Popular Articles

100+ community gardens in NYC will open to the public this weekend

Image courtesy of Daniel Avila / NYC Parks

May 30, 2023

100+ community gardens in NYC will open to the public this weekend

By Aaron Ginsburg

More than 100 community gardens across New York City are opening their gates to the public this weekend. Hosted by GreenThumb, the largest community garden program in the country, the sixth-annual Open Garden NYC invites New Yorkers to participate in fun, free, and eco-friendly activities, explore lush landscapes, and learn about the local gardens in their own neighborhood. Open Garden NYC will take place rain or shine on Saturday, June 3, and Sunday, June 4.
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Events & Things To Do

A section of NYC skateboarding ‘mecca’ Brooklyn Banks reopens in Chinatown

Public space under the Brooklyn Bridge. Wednesday, May 3, 2023. Images courtesy of Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office

May 16, 2023

A section of NYC skateboarding ‘mecca’ Brooklyn Banks reopens in Chinatown

By Aaron Ginsburg

Parts of a long-neglected public space under the Brooklyn Bridge once known as the "mecca" of New York City skateboarding will reopen this month. On Wednesday, May 24, "The Arches," a one-acre public space with basketball, pickleball, shuffleboard, and seating under the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge, will officially open after being shuttered for over a decade, Mayor Eric Adams announced last week. The new park sits next to Brooklyn Banks, a haven for skateboarders and BMX riders starting in the 1980s before closing in 2010.
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Beach closures scheduled in the Rockaways this summer, but boardwalk will fully open

Photo courtesy of Shinya Suzuki on Flickr

April 6, 2023

Beach closures scheduled in the Rockaways this summer, but boardwalk will fully open

By Aaron Ginsburg

Beach closures at the Rockaways are scheduled once again this summer, but city officials say the shutdown won't be as disruptive as last year. Starting on Memorial Day weekend, 10 to 15 blocks of the beach will temporarily close on a rolling basis throughout the summer, the city's Parks Department announced this week. Closures, necessary for continued work on the Atlantic Shorefront Resiliency Project, will shift as necessary, moving west from Beach 116th Street and east from Beach 143rd Street, according to the agency. The Rockway boardwalk and its concessions will remain fully open.
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City Living

NYC to lift ban on e-bikes in city parks this summer

Image courtesy of Shinya Suzuki on Flickr

March 22, 2023

NYC to lift ban on e-bikes in city parks this summer

By Aaron Ginsburg

New Yorkers will soon be able to ride electric bikes and scooters in New York City parks legally. As part of a pilot program starting this summer, the city's Department of Parks and Recreation will drop its current ban on certain electric vehicles on park drives and greenways, lifting a rule that conflicts with state laws. The pilot program is one part of a plan unveiled by Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday aimed at promoting the safe usage of e-bikes and other electric micro-mobility devices and preventing fires caused by lithium-ion batteries.
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City pilot will add more pedestrian space to Prospect Park’s roadway

Photo by Prabu Vasan for Prospect Park Alliance

March 8, 2023

City pilot will add more pedestrian space to Prospect Park’s roadway

By Aaron Ginsburg

Prospect Park's main roadway is getting a revamp. The Prospect Park Alliance and the Department of Transportation on Tuesday released the results of a year-long study of Prospect Park Drive, a busy loop within the park for pedestrians, joggers, and cyclists. Conducted by leading traffic consultancy Sam Schwartz, the NYC Parks Department, and DOT, the study analyzed crash data, roadway grade, pedestrian count, and other metrics to determine ways to improve the roadway. As a result of the study, the city is piloting adding a second lane on the outside of the drive, which would limit the need for crossings and prevent collisions.
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Proposal to restore Prospect Park’s Vale faces criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates

Rendering of the proposed northeast pavilion. All renderings courtesy of the Prospect Park Alliance

March 1, 2023

Proposal to restore Prospect Park’s Vale faces criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates

By Aaron Ginsburg

The city's Parks Department and the Prospect Park Alliance this week unveiled plans for the restoration of the Vale of Cashmere. The proposal, presented during a Landmarks Preservation Commission hearing on Tuesday, includes a new pollinator garden, natural exploration play areas, a planted arbor, and a wooden pavilion with a green roof and bathrooms. Several LPC commissioners, preservationists, and LGBTQ+ advocates opposed the proposal for the Upper Vale, with most taking issue with the plan's erasure of the site as a significant meeting spot for the city's queer community as well as the disregard for the original vision of the Vale.
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Central Park’s iconic Loeb Boathouse set to reopen this summer

Photo by Ajay Suresh via Wikimedia Commons

February 16, 2023

Central Park’s iconic Loeb Boathouse set to reopen this summer

By Devin Gannon

After closing its doors last year, the iconic Loeb Boathouse in Central Park will reopen this summer with a new operator. Mayor Eric Adams and the city's Parks Department on Thursday announced Legends Hospitality, the group that operates at Yankee Stadium and One World Observatory, has been selected to manage the Boathouse as part of a 10-year lease. If the contract is approved by the city's Franchise and Concession Review Committee next month, the venue could be open to the public as early as June.
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Mulchfest is back: Here’s how to recycle your Christmas tree in NYC

Photo credit: NYC Parks / Daniel Avila

January 3, 2023

Mulchfest is back: Here’s how to recycle your Christmas tree in NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

With the holidays behind us, there's no better way to officially wrap up the season than sustainably disposing of your Christmas tree. The Parks Department's annual Mulchfest started on December 26 and will run through January 8, with 73 drop-off sites across the five boroughs for New Yorkers to bid "fir-well" to the holidays. On January 7 and 8 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., residents can bring their trees to one of the city's 35 chipping sites, watch them be chipped, and take a bag of mulch home.
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Central Park’s first named gate since 1862 honors the exonerated ‘Central Park Five’

All photos courtesy of the Central Park Conservancy

December 20, 2022

Central Park’s first named gate since 1862 honors the exonerated ‘Central Park Five’

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new gate in Central Park will permanently honor the "Central Park Five," the five Black and Latino teens who in 1989 were convicted of a crime they didn't commit. "The Gate of the Exonerated" commemorates the exoneration of all five men, each of whom unjustly served between six and 12 years in prison before being cleared in 2002. Located on 110th Street between Malcolm X Boulevard and Fifth Avenue, the new entrance was unveiled on Monday, exactly 20 years after their convictions were overturned, marking the first named gate in Central Park since 1862.
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Uncategorized

Interact with nearly 1M NYC trees through a new digital map

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

December 12, 2022

Interact with nearly 1M NYC trees through a new digital map

By Aaron Ginsburg

New Yorkers will now be able to interact with nearly one million of New York City's trees through a new first-of-its-kind digital map. The NYC Parks Department last week released the NYC Tree Map, an interactive map that allows New Yorkers to see the unique IDs, species information, and maintenance status of more than 800,000 of the city's street and park trees.
See more here

City Living

New sculpture of Biggie Smalls unveiled at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge in Dumbo

All photos courtesy of Noemie Trusty

December 7, 2022

New sculpture of Biggie Smalls unveiled at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge in Dumbo

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new sculpture of the "King of New York" now greets visitors entering Brooklyn. The Dumbo Improvement District and the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership on Tuesday unveiled a 9-foot-tall bronze structure depicting hip-hop legend Christopher "The Notorious B.I.G." Wallace at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge in Dumbo. Created by artist Sherwin Banfield, the structure, titled "Sky's the Limit in the County of Kings," is dedicated to the "art, life, and legacy" of Wallace, who died 25 years ago.
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Events & Things To Do

These inventive, handcrafted holiday wreaths were designed by New Yorkers

All photos courtesy of NYC Parks / Malcolm Pinckney

December 2, 2022

These inventive, handcrafted holiday wreaths were designed by New Yorkers

By Aaron Ginsburg

NYC Park's annual Wreath Interpretations exhibition has returned to the Arsenal Gallery for its 40th year. Now through December 30, the public can visit the gallery, located in Central Park, and view nearly 40 unique, handcrafted wreaths that celebrate the holiday season.
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Events & Things To Do

Brooklyn Council Member hopes to plant 3,400 trees in his district, and wants neighbors to chip in

Image via WikiCommons

November 2, 2022

Brooklyn Council Member hopes to plant 3,400 trees in his district, and wants neighbors to chip in

By Aaron Ginsburg

Brooklyn residents should expect to see a lot more greenery over the next couple of years. Council Member Lincoln Restler on Wednesday announced a plan to plant 3,400 trees in vacant street tree pits across District 33 in an effort to max out the district's street tree capacity. The city's Parks Department has committed to planting 2,200 trees over the next four years, with Restler's office calling upon the community to help fund the planting of an additional 1,200 trees.
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City Living

Construction begins on Socrates Sculpture Park’s permanent home made of shipping containers

Rendering of The Cubes at Socrates Sculpture Park, courtesy LOT-EK

September 22, 2022

Construction begins on Socrates Sculpture Park’s permanent home made of shipping containers

By Aaron Ginsburg

NYC Parks and Socrates Sculpture Park broke ground this week on "The Cubes," a two-story building that will be the first permanent structure in the Astoria park's 30-year history. The 2,640-square-foot facility will house programming, administrative offices, community work, and arts education. Designed by architecture studio LOT-EK, the $5,735,000 project will be created using recycled shipping containers to honor the neighborhood's "industrial roots," according to a press release. Construction is expected to finish in early 2024.
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Events & Things To Do

NYC receives $7M federal grant to expand greenway network in underserved communities

Image courtesy of Elvert Barnes on Flickr

August 23, 2022

NYC receives $7M federal grant to expand greenway network in underserved communities

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City received a $7.25 million federal grant that will be put towards the expansion of the city's greenway network, Mayor Eric Adams announced Monday. The expansion aims to improve the greenway network's reach in historically underserved, lower-income neighborhoods that lack access to public transportation and jobs by filling in "critical gaps" in the network, improving cyclist and pedestrian safety, and enhancing green transportation alternatives and waterfront access.
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