10 Reasons Why Guardian Loves New York City

#9 The Stunning Parks

In a place so locked in by buildings and concrete and traffic it is so important to have these places to escape to where nature is easily accessible to recharge.

Within NYC you can access to nature with the iconic Central Park with 843 acres of land. It is the most filmed park too with features in over 350 movies to date. First approved in 1853 as an urban park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, Central Park is the fifth largest park in New York City. Here is a self-guided tour of the park that covers 5 miles and takes an estimated 2 hours if you’d like to see everything Central Parks has to offer.

Additionally, you have Bryant Park which was created in 1686 and is where George Washington’s troops crossed in retreat in the Battle of Long Island in 1776. There is also Fort Tryon Park which has a view of the Hudson River, the George Washington Bridge. It is also the place of the Battle of Fort Washington in the American Revolutionary War and was created by the philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr. in 1917.

​With more than 1,700 parks, playgrounds and recreation facilities in the 5 boroughs there are so many opportunities to escape the grind and take in some greenery. Here is a list of the best parks New York City has to offer.