I came to Seward Park in the heart of Chinatown, as I was struggling to find a place to eat my…read moreMetro Acres Market rotisserie chicken. The clock was ticking, but like my dad always used to say: No pressure, no diamond. I took a lap, scanning the park for potential seats. All the chessboard tables I normally frequent were taken by crackhead-like characters. It made me wary of the places I normally sit to eat my chickens. "So that's who sits at these tables before me..." the hero said to himself. But there was no time for the mind to wander. No time to allow for the fear to creep in. I locked in and found a bench near the basketball courts that would have to do. I sat there digging into one of the least inspired birds I've eaten thus far. It ended up coming in at 68th out of 75 grocery store chickens I have currently scored. Truly a sad case, but that's the game. The ups. The downs. I love it all. It makes me feel alive. As I was packing up, spraying hand sanitizer on my mule skinners to combat the chicken juice, I saw a group of kids with nike slides on their feet and hoop shoes in their hands arriving to play basketball. It brought me back to a simpler time. When my only worry was what time I got to hoop with my homies. Ahhh, to be young. To be free. IG @jnov_ Tiktok @jnov__

Much cleaner in the last months after actively complaining to the…read more Commissioner of Parks and the local congressman's office. Now it is locked every night and the cleaners work tirelessly despite an almost non existent budget

Named after the founder of the New York Tribune, this is a great park to rest but it's loud and…read moreisn't meant as a peaceful retreat. It's a highly trafficked thoroughfare, since it's right in the center of the city where all the action is. It's still tastefully decorated at the entrances with holiday decor as of early January. There is some foliage and planters of green life that doesn't die in the winter, and there are benches where you can sit.

Greeley Square Park is a NYC Parks property of a triangle plaza. It is named to celebrated editor…read moreand political leader Horace Greeley (1811-1872) who launched the American newspaper, New York Tribune in 1841. There is a bronze statue of Quincy granite. I walked through this triangle plaza. There are limited tables and benches. There are also many food street vendors or food kiosk occupying public plaza space. Greeley Square Park does have public facilities. https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/greeley-square-park/history

A small NYC gated children's playground located on Minetta Lane, West 3rd Street and Avenue of…read moreAmericas in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, NYC. Oh, if there was a spell to physically regress to a child in Halliwell's the Book Of Shadows from "Charmed"! I would be cavorting the spray shower on stifling hot and humid summer days without shoes and climbing the play structure. There are a pair of low swings and built-in chess tables. Certainly childhood is simpler and carefree than the complicated responsible adulthood.

Really well kept playground to bring the kids…read more Well maintained equipment to improve and play on. Nice gardening around the trees. Working water fountain. Soft matted ground in the play area. Benches to sit on. There is also a large fun water spray area which I ran through on this 100 degree day!

We enjoyed sitting on a bench and basking in the sunny weather watching people around the grass…read morearea.

The Arthur Ross Pinetum…read more This is a beautiful area inside Central Park that was landscaped and equipped for the people of the City of New York. The plaque says that it's a gift to the City of New York from an interested citizen. What a nice and generous thing to do if you have the means. It's a lot bigger than it appears. I walked from the West Side where I took a photo of the first sign to the East Side where I found a sign that said Pinetum East. There's one small area with picnic tables and then on the East Side a large picnic area. The space called the playground is swings and I saw adults doing exercises near a bar used for chin ups. I remember I never could do those pull ups when required in school. There's plenty of benches in the pines to sit peacefully. The trees are beautiful. I really enjoyed visiting this location today. I think it's a great place to meet friends for a picnic some day!

Pier 42 - Pier 42 pleasantly surprised me as a modern and open public space. It's ideal for walks,…read morerelaxing by the water, or taking a short break with a view of the river. I like the greenery, benches, and spaces for quiet activities. The place feels clean, safe, and less crowded than more popular parks, which I see as a big advantage. The many sports facilities are also a great bonus.

Pier 42 is located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York, NY United States. Right next to…read morePier 36 on 299 South St, NY. I really enjoyed this park. They have a soccer field, tennis court and work out area on the waters. I've never seen anything like this. The day was sunny and handful of people were working out, playing tennis and soccer. They also have a playground for kids and clean restroom for use. Plenty of seating area. The park is very up-kept, clean and I felt safe. You get to enjoy the water views too.

Nice sized pedestrian plaza to relax and watch the crowds stroll by…read more Situated at the base of the Flatiron building and across Eataly and Madison Square Park it offers some nice views of the area and Empire State Building. There are plenty of chairs and tables around, and on nice days like today live music can be found entertaining the masses. Plenty of shopping and places to get a bite and drink in the area. Take a seat and enjoy.

Flatiron Plaza is one of my all time favorite resting spots. I often frequent many of the…read morebusinesses nearby. By the time I walk this far I need a rest. During nice weather I get something to eat and find a seat in the plaza for my snack. You can find many landmarks and historic buildings nearby. I have lots of photos of the Flatiron Building. Just like many other people it's one of my favorite buildings. It fits snugly into the space. The best view of the building is from the Plaza. My opinion! The building has quite a history. It's not my job to regurgitate what you can find on line. Enjoy my photos...... You're Welcome!

Located near East First Street and First Avenue, the park opened in 1935. In the mid-1990s, after…read moreyears of neglect and disrepair, community members led by the First Street Block Association created the First Park Children's Playground Committee to clean, plant, and paint the park, and also enlist support for park improvements. The renovations featured a complete reconstruction of the recreational facilities and the site was named First Park by Parks Commissioner Henry J. Stern. The park reopened on June 26, 1997 with benches, play equipment, swings, a spray shower with fish ornamentation, a decorative floor medallion with signs of the zodiac, and a kiosk selling snacks with a separate seating area. Great looking playground equipment, all inside a fence that will keep the little ones from wandering off. Is the base soft? Hard to tell. [Review 15696 overall - 288 in New York - round number 1200 of 2021.]

The murals are awesome, but the "park" itself is borderline awful. There's basically no green, no…read morelawns, barely any vegetation. The walkway is littered and dusty. No place to comfortably sit down... not really a place you'd go to hang out and chill. In the middle of the park there was a creepy-looking junky.

The Westside Highway is so Hollywood now. I'm sick of it. Goodluck trying to run, or even have a…read morebrisk stroll when it's a nice day out. You'll be shoulder checking mfs. It's like being in the club damn near. It's cooked. The Eastside highway, in contrast, is so slept on. It doesn't take itself too serious. Yeah it doesn't have boujee ass playgrounds or man made beaches every couple blocks, but it's beautiful in its own right. It just shows up, puts the work in, and clocks out. It doesn't need the glitz and glamor like your beloved Westside Highway. It doesn't need the accolades. It just lets its game do the talking. The track is also flying under the radar. I've lived in the East Village for a year and a half and didn't even know it existed. We held our own EV Olympics here over the weekend and I couldn't have been more shocked about how nice it is. It's a polyurethane track that is comprised of multiple layers for optimal performance. On Saturday, I was getting DESTROYED in the 100M dash by my 2 most athletic friends. That's how you get better though. I'm coming back for gold in 2028. Also, sprinting 100M a few times when you haven't sprinted in a minute really shocks the body, let me tell you. I'm still feeling it. On Sunday, I came back and just walked around the track for an hour, called my Mom, Dad, Brother, and girlfriend. While yapping away and logging steps, I was able to enjoy the east river view, open air, and the men's soccer league game that was going on in the middle. I can breathe out here. EASTSIDE STAND UP! Ig @jnov_ Tiktok @jnov_reviews

We've all heard about the Hudson River Park on the west side but on the east side, we've got the…read moreJohn V. Lindsay East River Park! The park is a great place to take in the scenic views of the East River and it offers a well paved riverfront pathway, making it perfect for a walk or a run. The park is also equipped with a track, baseball field, soccer field, and basketball courts, making it a great place for sport activities. It's not nearly as crowded as the Hudson River Park so if you're looking for a more lowkey alternative, the East River Park is the way to go!