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Parks and Outdoor Activities
From Senior Planet Resource Exchange
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[edit] Overview
Even within the city limits of New York there are numerous parks and outdoor spaces to take advantage of. Below you will find information on specific outdoor spaces as well as outdoor activities that can be enjoyed throughout the city. Add your favorite outdoor space to this list so that others can enjoy the great outdoors!
For information regarding all City parks, including locations, events, and facilities, visit the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation website. To find a specific park click here.
[edit] Parks
There are numerous parks throughout the City, here are a few, arranged by borough.
Brooklyn
Prospect Park click to read more about Brooklyn's largest park.
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Brooklyn Bridge Park is located along the East River and offers spectacular views of the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan. This waterfront park currently offers 12 acres of space and is being expanded to offer 85 acres in the future.
In addition to its spectacular views, the park offers several programs, events, and facilities that shouldn't be missed! To name a few, the park offers free outdoor movie viewings in the summer, outdoor fitness classes, a floating swimming pool, and an ice skating rink. So whether you want to take in the view or participate in an event, the Brooklyn Bridge Park is a unique experience!
To learn more about events, construction updates on the expansion, or what else the park has to offer, visit their website.
Contact Information
Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy
334 Furman Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
718.802.0603
Bronx
Crontona Park is the largest park in the South Bronx and is home to a large variety of trees as well as a 3.3 acre lake. The park has a nature center, Olympic-size swimming pool, and a boathouse. Crotona Park is excellent place to experience nature and escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
Learn what events are happening in the park by checking out the Events Calendar or, view a map of the park.
Manhattan
Central Park is comprised of over 800 acres of land. It is an unexpected surprise in the middle of New York's busiest borough. As a green oasis, it is the perfect place to get away from the city without leaving the city!
Aside from its beautiful foliage and relaxing atmosphere the park also offers many events, facilities, and services that can be enjoyed all year round.
- To find out what is going on in the park this week visit their Events Calendar for information on free events.
- For Benefit Events click here.
- Central Park can seem like a maze of paths and roads. Check out their maps and guides before you visit the park.
- To learn about activities and programs going on in the park click here.
- For more information on the park visit their website.
Contact Information
Central Park Conservancy
14 East 60th Street
New York, NY 10021
212-310-6600
contact@centralparknyc.org
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Bryant Park, located in midtown Manhattan, is a multi-purpose space serving as a park, lunch spot, event site, and more!
The park boasts a number of restaurants and food stands and is filled with tables and chairs making it a great location for people watching! The park also offers free wireless internet, a carousel, and a ice skating rink in the winter.
Events are constantly going on in Bryant Park. To learn what is happening today visit their Events Calendar.
For more information and a complete history of the park visit their website.
Contact Information
Bryant Park Corporation
500 Fifth Avenue
Suite 1100
New York, NY 10110
phone: 212-768-4242
fax: 212-719-3499
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Battery Park along Manhattan's west side is made up of several parks offering a variety of facilities and events. Made of a combination of park, water front, and public art, Battery Park is a unique experience.
- For a listing of specific parks and their features click here.
- To learn more about the public art seen in the parks visit their Public Art page.
- For news and events click here.
- For a map and directions click here.
Contact Information
Battery Park City Parks Conservancy
2 South End Avenue
New York, NY 10280
(212)267-9700
info@bpcparks.org
Website
Queens
Flushing Meadow Corona Park is the largest park in Queens and offers everything from a zoo, to a botanical garden, to a museum. The park also offers playgrounds, promenades, and space for outdoor sports.
- View a map of the park and its facilities.
- Visit the Events Calendar to find out what is going on in the park this month. To learn more about about what the park has to offer check out the Park Highlights
- Directions to the park can be found here.
Staten Island
The Greenbelt is made of of almost 3,000 acres in the center of Staten Island. The area consists of a nature preserve, several traditional parks, as well as hiking trails.
- Check out the numerous hiking trails, each rated by degree of difficulty. Maps and Trails.
- There is always something going on in the Greenbelt. Check out the Upcoming Events.
- Plan a visit to the Nature Center.
- Directions.
- For all other information visit the Greenbelt's Website.
Contact Information
The Greenbelt Conservancy
200 Nevada Avenue
Staten Island NY 10306
1-718-667-2165
email: communications@sigreenbelt.org
[edit] Botanical Gardens
Brooklyn Botanical Garden
View the Brooklyn Botanical Garden page to learn more about what this amazing "living museum" has to offer.
The New York Botanical Garden
Located in the Bronx, NYBG is the largest botanical garden in any city in the US. Along with the gardens and plants offered, NYBG is also an educational institution and a research organization. Activities, exhibitions, and programs also compliment the Garden's offerings.
For more information on hours, admission, exhibitions, and programs check out NYBG's website.
Contact Information
The New York Botanical Garden
200th Street and Kazimiroff Boulevard
Bronx, NY 10458-5126
General Info: 718.817.8700
Queens Botanical Garden
The Queens Botanical Garden is a living museum serving the diverse community of Queens. In addition to its planet collection, activities, and programs, QBG also has a Senior Garden where members are allowed to grow their own vegetables.
For information on all that the Queens Botanical Garden has to offer visit their website.
Contact Information
Queens Botanical Garden
43-50 Main Street
Flushing, NY 11355
P 718.886.3800
F 718.463.0263
Snug Harbor Botanical Garden
Located on Staten Island, the botanical garden is a part of the Snug Harbor Cultural Center. The garden offers the NY Scholar's Chinese Garden, a Tuscan Garden, garden tours, a library, and a compost program. To find out more about the botanical garden visit their website.
Contact Information
1000 Richmond Terrace
Staten Island, NY 10301
(718) 273-8200
email: info@snug-harbor.org
[edit] Outdoor Sports
Golf
The 19 Golf Courses and Golf facilities of the City of New York offer a “Senior Rate” for 18 holes of golf to those over 62 years of age.
The rate applies only to municipal golf courses on non-holiday weekdays.
To obtain a Senior rate ID card, you must be: 62+ and present proof of age and NYC residency. Photo ID is taken at the NYC municipal golf course. The permit is good for 2 years.
For a list of NYC golf course locations and rates, go to NYC Parks and Recreation Golf Page where golf courses and driving ranges are listed by borough.
Bocce
There are several Bocce Courts available throughout the NYC Parks. Bocce courts can be used on a first-come, first-served basis (except during tournaments) and no permit is required to play.
For information on locations of Bocce Courts as well as information about the citywide bocce tournament, visit NYC's parks and recreation bocce page.
Biking
For those individuals who do not feel comfortable riding bikes on the busy streets of New York, the city offers many miles of Greenways, or bike paths. There are currently over 100 miles of bike paths throughout the city, with a couple hundred more miles planned to be added.
The city has created several bike maps as well as guides to the Greneways throughout the city. To view them click here. Riding your bike is a fun, healthy, and environment-friendly way to get around and enjoy the city!
For more information on biking in NYC, including rules and guidelines and Greenway expansion plans, click here.
Fitness Programs
The Parks Department offers a program called Step Out New York City every spring and summer. The program encourages everyone of all ages to get out and experience the city while maintaining fitness.
The program offers organized walks 1.5-2 miles long. There are several locations throughout the city where individuals can participate. Participants are given a pedometer, to track their mileage, as well as a t-shirt.
Check out the Step Out New York City website for information on locations and times.
[edit] Zoos
New York City offers a zoo for each borough. Except for Staten Island's zoo, all the zoos are run by the Wildlife Conservation Society. Below is contact information for each of the zoos. Check out a zoo's website to learn about current activities, events, admission prices, and hours.
Prospect Park Zoo Contact Information
Prospect Park Zoo
450 Flatbush Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11225
(718) 399-7339
Website
Central Park Zoo Contact Information
Central Park Zoo
64th Street and Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10021
(212) 439-6500
Website
Queens Zoo Contact Information
Queens Zoo
53-51 111th Street
Flushing, New York 11368
(718) 271-1500
Website
Bronx Zoo Contact Information
The Wildlife Conservation Society
2300 Southern Boulevard
Bronx, New York 10460
(718) 220-5100
Website
Staten Island Zoo
The Staten Island Zoo
614 Broadway
Staten Island, NY 10310
(718) 442-3100
Website