The Best Parks in NYC by Season
New York City is not short on parks. The hard part isn't finding a park in the city, it's choosing which one to go to. There are plenty of factors to consider, but we're going to focus on the time of the year. In this post, we're sharing the best park in NYC for every season.
The best park in NYC in the Spring
Winner: Gantry Plaza State Park & Hunter's Point South (Queens)
Highlights: Cherry Blossoms, Skyline Views, Great Playgrounds
The best park in NYC in the spring is actually two parks: Gantry Plaza State Park and Hunter's Point South. Together, these two parks cover over a mile of waterfront green space along the East River, on the southern edge of Queens.
These riverfront parks come to life in the spring. The parks' many pathways wind through the manicured gardens past a vibrant array of flowers and trees. Most impressively, are the cherry blossoms.
In the heart of Hunter's Point South (just west of Borden Avenue), there's a ring of Cherry Blossoms that are absolutely stunning at peak bloom. It is one of the best places in the city for Cherry Blossoms, largely because of the skyline backdrop behind them.
Speaking of which, these parks have skyline views views for days! Whether you stroll the paths from the Pepsi Cola sign, take a seat on one of the many loungers, or you venture out on the southern lookout platform, you are treated to some of the best views of Midtown Manhattan. It is most stunning at sunset, which in the spring, usually falls perfectly after dinnertime.
Finally, let's talk about the playgrounds. There is one in each park, and both are absolutely buzzing on spring evenings. The Gantry Plaza playground is the better of the two though, as it's near the cherry blossoms and is a bit bigger.
The best park in NYC in the Summer
Winner: Chelsea Waterside Park
Highlights: Playground & Splash Pad, Carousel Nearby, Great Location
One of the best things about NYC parks is that a lot of them have water features and splash pads. However, the water isn't always on and they're not always in the best conditions. One of my favorite parks in the summer has one of the best and most reliable water play areas in the city. That park is, of course, Chelsea Waterside Park.
The majority of space at this particular park is dedicated to the children's play area. (The rest is dedicated to the dogs.) There are a few climbing structures and slides (targeted more to older kids), a large sand play area, and a water splash area. In the summer, most kids are in their swimsuits and water shoes and running around from one section to another.
The play space is great, but so is this park's location. It's just across the street from another great park, Hudson River Park. This park has a carousel and stretches further north along the water with even more beautiful green space and waterfront views.
The park is also just steps away from Chelsea Piers and The High Line, not to mention the entire buzzing neighborhood of Chelsea. There is plenty to do, see and eat nearby. This location can't be beat on a summer afternoon.
The best park in NYC in the Fall
Winner: Prospect Park (Brooklyn)
Highlights: Fall foliage, seasonal activities, botanical garden, zoo & playgrounds
I must confess. I do not spend nearly as much time in Prospect Park as I'd like. (In my defense, I do live in Queens, which is over an hour away by train.) However, every time I'm there it's an absolute delight.
Prospect Park was designed by the great Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed Central Park (and the Biltmore Estate, Yale University, the World's Columbian Exposition and many more.) So you know it's beautiful!
It is the most stunning when that fall foliage hits, usually around late October. There are endless great routes for foliage walks, including Lookout Hill, the Ravine and all around Prospect Park Lake.
Prospect Park is also home to the Audubon Center, which is open on weekends through November. The center hosts a variety of family friendly activities, so be sure to check their schedule. They also host guided foliage walks, including dedicated stroller walks for families.
If you've canvassed the park and need more fall foliage, head to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. The botanical gardens offers a variety of different trees and views, most notably their Japanese Maples.
To keep kids busy, be sure to swing by one of the seven playgrounds in the park. (The two best playgrounds are Vanderbilt and Harmony.) You can also visit the Prospect Park Zoo, which is open all year.
The best park in NYC in the Winter
Winner: Central Park (Manhattan)
Highlights: Maintained walkways, city views, sledding, numerous playgrounds, zoo
We all knew Central Park had to show up on this list! Of course Central Park is great during every season, but it retains it's value better in the winter than most any other park in New York City.
One of the best things about Central Park is that the walkways are maintained all year. That means that you no matter the weather, you can always count on a stroll through Central Park.
The endless paths through Central Park will also give you amazing views, which are extra special if you happen to be there during a snowfall. The path around the reservoir is one of my favorites, but you also can't miss Bethesda Fountain, The Mall and The Pond.
Speaking of snow, Central Park is of course popular for sledding! The two main sledding spots are Cedar Hill and Pilgrim Hill — both of which are located just east of The Lake.
If it's not snowing, there's still plenty to do in Central Park. The park has over 20 playgrounds (!!!) scattered around the park, so there is almost guaranteed to be one nearby wherever you are. Billy Johnson Playground (just past Central Park Zoo) and Ancient Playground (near The Met) are two of my favorites.
The Central Park Zoo is also open every day, all year. This Zoo is actually great in the winter, because some of the best exhibits (specifically the penguins and birds/reptiles) are indoors. Tickets are a bit pricy, but if you're local, the WCS membership is a worthwhile investment. Members get unlimited free access to all 4 main city zoos, including Central Park Zoo and Bronx Zoo.
And that's a wrap!
What's your favorite park in New York City? And what's your favorite season to go there? Let us know in the comments!