10 Green Spaces in NYC: My Favorite Parks & Gardens

The “concrete jungle” is full of great green spaces, parks, and gardens … *if* you know where to look in New York City.

While people are always amazed by how vast Central Park is, we’re going beyond the obvious on this post to highlight gardens and parks that are loved by locals and visitors alike.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is an easy subway ride from Manhattan.  You can take the train to a number of stations, which are walkable to the entrance. The closest subway stations include:

• Eastern Pkwy-Brooklyn Museum
• Botanic Garden
• Prospect Park
• Grand Army Plaza

The garden complex is sprawling, with indoor and outdoor exhibits. They have it all: desert plants, tropicals, bonsais, large lawns, a water garden, a cherry tree grove, an herb garden, and much more.

Basics on the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

• Location: In Prospect Park, near the Brooklyn Museum.
• Founded: In 1910, as a horticultural showcase and research garden.
• Highlights: Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, Cherry Esplanade, Rose Garden, Shakespeare Garden, and Conservatory.
• Cherry Blossoms: One of NYC’s best spots for spring bloom viewing (April).
• Best Time to Visit: Spring for blooms, summer for roses, and fall for foliage.

My Favorite Part of the Garden

I love the bonsai garden!  It’s amazing to read the signs next to the trees and find out: many of them are *decades* old! Plus, the shop at the exit of the garden is one of the best spots to buy gifts in the city.

The North Woods in Central Park

The North Woods can be found in the northwestern corner of Central Park.  I think it’s the best spot in Manhattan to go, if you want to feel far from the city.  It’s quiet, and you’ll really feel like you’re walking a path upstate!

Basics on the North Woods

• Location: At the park’s northwest corner (roughly 101st–110th Streets).
• Highlights: Loch Stream, Ravine, Glen Span Arch, Huddlestone Arch (built from uncut boulders), and the Pool.
• Wildlife: Known for birdwatching.

My Favorite Part

The North Woods are especially pretty as the leaves change in autumn. This is also part of the park where you really can’t even see the skyscrapers. You’ll also walk by a creek and small waterfall.

The Conservatory Garden in Central Park 

The Conservatory a popular gem among locals in NYC.  You enter through the Vanderbilt Gate, on 5th Avenue (on the east side of the park) at 105th Street.

Basics on the Conservatory Garden

• Location: Northeast side of Central Park.
• Entrance: In East Harlem, enter through the Grand Vanderbilt Gate on Fifth Avenue, originally from the Vanderbilt Mansion.
• Design: The Conservatory blends three styles: Italian (the central lawn and pergola), French (the fountain and symmetrical flower beds), and English (winding paths).
• Best Seasons: Spring for tulips and crabapple blossoms; summer for colorful annuals; fall for chrysanthemums.

My Favorite Part of the Conservatory Garden

I love it here on less-crowded days. You’ll usually find a bench to sit on.  Plus, I’m always amazed by the blooms, well into autumn.

Governors Island

I’m not sure why it took me so long to take the ferry to Governors Island.  It’s a really odd, unique spot, full of history.  Plus, the views of the Manhattan skyline are amazing!

Basic Info on Governors Island

• Location: It’s an island off the southern tip of Manhattan.
• Getting There: An easy ferry ride from Manhattan or Brooklyn.
• History: Former military post for the U.S. Army and Coast Guard, which opened to the public in the 2000s.
• Highlights: Abandoned buildings overgrown with vines, art exhibitions, a few cafes and restaurants, summertime “glamping,” and bike paths. It’s mostly car-free!
• Gardens: Grow NYC has an urban farm on the island, which is considered a “teaching garden,” focused on sustainability.
• Best Time to Visit: You’ll have full access from spring through fall.

My Favorite Part of Governors Island

I like renting a Citi Bike and riding around Governors Island. Plus, the views are unbeatable!

Roosevelt Island

A trip to Roosevelt Island involves the famous tram over the river.  It’s a quick and scenic ride, with a great view.  Or, you can opt to take the subway if you don’t feel like waiting in line.

I’ll be honest: there’s not much to do on Roosevelt Island in terms of food or shopping.  Still, it’s fun to make the trip to walk, bike ride, enjoy the view, and learn about the history of the island. They also have a community vegetable garden, and public art displays!

• Location: In the East River between Manhattan and Queens.
• How to Get There: Accessible by subway (F train), the iconic Roosevelt Island Tram, and a bridge from Queens.
• History: Formerly home to hospitals, asylums, and a smallpox quarantine facility!
• Highlights:
  • The Renwick Ruin: The remains of the 1850s Smallpox Hospital (photo below)
  • Lighthouse Park: At the north tip with a historic 1872 lighthouse.
  • Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park: On the south end of the park.

My Favorite Part

I’ll go with the obvious here: the Tram is pretty unique!

Little Island

Little Island is a newer attraction, built on a historic pier on Manhattan’s southwestern side.  The Titanic survivors were brought to this pier in 1912.  

When it opened, during the pandemic, you needed to reserve a timed entry.  Now, you can walk in at your leisure, for free!

The architects, funded privately by Barry Diller and Diane von Furstenberg, created the concept of 132 tulip-shaped concrete “pots” rising above the Hudson River, to support a green space.

The Basics on Little Island

• Location: A floating public park on the Hudson River at Pier 55, near West 14th Street.
• Design: Built on 132 tulip-shaped concrete “pots,” giving it a sculptural, elevated look.
• Opened: May 2021 as a new green space and performance venue.
• Landscape: Native plants and trees are planted across mini-hills to create a walking paths and scenic overlooks.
• Activities: Walking, photography, picnicking, free or ticketed performances, and sunset viewing.

My Favorite Part

I love the history here.  Plus, since it opened a few years ago, it’s been fun to watch the native plants take over and thrive on site.

The Empire State Trail

The Empire State Trail on Manhattan is part of the 750-mile biking and walking trail, linking New York City to Albany and Buffalo.

• Route: Runs along Manhattan’s West Side via the Hudson River Greenway, the longest protected bike path in NYC.
• Ideal for: Walking, jogging, and biking, since it’s fully separated from traffic.
• Scenery: Continuous Hudson River views, piers, parks, public art, and skyline backdrops.
• Sites Along the Way: Battery Park, Chelsea Piers, Hudson River Park, Riverside Park

My Favorite Part

It’s a safe and easy way to bike ride in New York City.

The New York City High line  

The High Line is one of the most iconic examples of repurposing and redevelopment in New York City.

It was originally part of the rail tracks built in the 1930s to lift trains above Manhattan streets. By the 1980s, it was abandoned and fell into disrepair.

The efforts to turn it into a unique urban public park began in 1999.  The architects incorporated the rail line’s industrial history and character with native plantings and walking paths.  The first section opened in 2009, and it was completed five years later.

Basics on the High Line

• Location: Runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to 34th Street on Manhattan’s West Side.
• Length: It’s about 1.5 miles.
• Design: Modern landscaping, wildflower-style plantings, art installations, and other urban garden features.

My Favorite Part

It’s a brilliant idea, which sparked urban revitalization in the Meatpacking District and Chelsea, and inspired similar projects worldwide.

Prospect Park in Brooklyn

Prospect Park is Brooklyn’s flagship green space, and home to the Botanic Garden (among others).  

• Location: Central Brooklyn
• Size: 526 acres
• Highlights (aside from the Botanic Garden):
  • Long Meadow  
  • Prospect Park Lake  
  • The Ravine
  • Zoo
  • Grand Army Plaza (main entrance)

My Favorite Part

I like the blooms in springtime and the fall colors in autumn. Also, I mentioned this earlier, but I do like the gift shop at the entrance of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.