Manhattan Parks That Aren't Central Park

Madison Square Park is brilliantly located. It's just seven blocks from the Empire State Building and right next to the intriguing Flatiron Building. MSP is surrounded by great restaurants and shopping stores (lego store, Harry Potter store, lululemon, and plenty more). My suggestion would be grabbing a pastry or sandwich from nearby Maman or Eataly and heading into the park to enjoy the sights and sounds. If you're a little more hungry, you'll have to grab a burger and fries and the original shake shack located within the park. It's parks like MSP, that serve as a nice quiet safe haven from the hustle and bustle from the NYC streets.

Riverside Park stretches longer than manhattan going from 59th street all the way up to 158th street. I guess technically there is Riverside Park South and then Riverside Park but I think it just makes sense to combine them. This park has just about everything, dining, sports, lawns, gardens, and more. Everything you would need to enjoy a sunny Summer day in NYC. It is also perfect to stroll or bike along the Hudson River. So if you're looking to get your steps in this park is for you!

Union Square Park is another well situated park with plenty of restaurants, shops, and cafes nearby. There's even a Barnes & Noble across the street so you can grab that new book you've been wanting to buy and crack it open on a park bench. There are two major reasons why I love this park. The first is being its dog park. It's really a simple pleasure to grab a cup of coffee and just watch all the different pups run about. The other reason is the great farmers market Union Square hosts with many different vendors offering a selection of items. In the winter, it's home to one of the best holiday markets in the city.

Despite its name, this park is actually nowhere near Rockefeller Center but instead it's right near the One World Trade Center and Brookfield place. Sitting nicely on the Hudson River, Rockefeller Park has a great green space to sprawl out for a bit and enjoy the weather.

Battery Park is probably one of the coolest situated parks in Manhattan. It sits right at the tip of Manhattan so it provides a very different perspective of being in the city as well as offering views of Governors Island, Ellis Island, and the Statue of Liberty.

Tompkins Square Park sits at the heart of the East Village. Travelers can grab a famous bagel from Tompkins Square Bagels or venture from one of St. Marks Place's many bars and restaurants. This park made this list for two reasons. One simply because I love Mumford & Sons and they have a song written after this park. Major main character vibes to listen to that song in this park. The other is its major historical significance to Manhattan and specifically to the East Village. More recently, the area has been pretty gentrified but before this area was a gritty melting pot of culture, art, and turmoil. Tompkins Square Park could be seen at the center of it all. In 1988, a riot erupted here as police attempted to remove the large homeless population that had settled here.

Okay, not technically a park or in Manhattan but it's worth the mention and easy to travel to. Visitors can experience the cool sky tram that transports people from Manhattan across the East River and onto the Island. Once on Roosevelt Island, it's an easy walk as the island is only 1.5 miles long and 1/8 miles wide. There's open green spaces, historical structures, artwork, and even university buildings.