This has always been my favorite park in Albany to walk through casually and great for spending a morning or afternoon at. The park is moderately large sized and during the annual Tulip Festival, parking is hard to come by, otherwise is okay any other day. The park has a center stage fountain and many beds of flowers. In my opinion, it's the most beautiful in April and May, when all the tulips are in full blossom. There are also several trail areas to walk and during the Tulip Fest, the area is totally filled with food trucks and vendors. Year after year, there is an increased amount of food trucks and vendors, which seems to show how it has become largely popular. I enjoy my visits to Washington Park whenever I am in the area and will most definitely do so in the future. read more

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Another year of Tulip Fest and I love coming here every year. They have plenty of parking all around the venue. The grounds are clean and well maintained. It's not to late to get your photos of late bloomers but a lot already are past there prime. Try and make it your business to make this yearly event. I look forward to photographing these events every year. read more

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The park was created from a design by Fredrick Olmsted, who is famous for New York City's Central Park. Though resources state he himself didn't design it. The park offers tennis courts, basketball courts, a skate cage, a playground, lts of statues, monuments, lake House and amphitheatre. The park is famous for the tulip festival in spring, Hispanic festival in summer, a 5k run in fall and a for Xmas decorations over the winter. If you enjoy mature and want to take a stroll in the heat of the city, this would be a great place with amazing historic homes and restaurants nearby surrounding the park. read more

Washington Park - Parks Near Me

Can't say anything bad about this place...an oasis in downtown. Lovely grounds that host multiple events from farmers markets to 5k runs to festivals. Parking can sometimes be a pain but to walk through is like a breath of fresh air (literally). read more

Great paths to walk through this park. The pond has a bridge to cross over and loop back. There are always people walking dogs, playing frisbee, exercising, and enjoying the green space. There's even a playground. Lots of festivals throughout the spring and summer here. Parking is hit or miss depending on timing. Most times you can park along the roads but during festivals you will need to park outside the park area and walk in. read more

Absolutely stunning tulips and 1,000's to see in every color and species. The tulip festival is not to be missed. Lots of flowers, music, food and fun for the whole family. The park is beautiful and not to be missed. read more

Washington Park - tulip festival - Parks Near Me

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Nice park for running, walking, laying out, reading, etc. It also seems pretty safe. Don't be alarmed by the occasional smell of weed - it's legal in New York State. Motor vehicle accessible. Some parts of the park could use some re-paving of the roads. If you're a runner, the loop is about 2 miles and has a good mix of hills and flat road. read more

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Washington Park is historic and offers much more than meets the eye. It's a relaxing place to picnic, or to be active. There are trails and a pond and a skatepark, basketball courts, tennis courts and handball courts. Beautiful all year round! read more

A beautiful, serene place to walk and enjoy nature. Perfect for romantic strolls or dog walking. A downtown gem read more

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I spent an hour strolling thru here last week while my husband was having surgery to clear my head. It was a beautiful spring day&just what I needed. People walking their dogs, jogging, or just strolling under a blue sky was the icing on the cake. I thoroughly enjoyed being in this clean & pretty park read more

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***1000th Yelp Review**** I wanted to write this milestone review on a special place, so I picked this neat spot near my hometown. Washington Park is conveniently located in Albany's downtown. The park isn't HUGE, but it's sizable enough. Some of my favorite things to do in the park: 1. Tulip Fest - This is one of the major events of the year, which happens to be around Mother's Day. Great time to come see the beautiful tulips, grab a bite from a food truck and do a little shopping from the vendors. There are also free concerts here during the festival. 2. Park Playhouse - There are free shows here in the summertime, of course donations are accepted. This is a nice, low cost night out! 3. Stroll the park! It's very pretty and relaxing. There is a spot not too far from the Moses statue where people with dogs gather. So, yes, the park is pet friendly! 4. Capital Holiday Lights in the Park - If you want to get into the Christmas mood, this is the perfect event. You pay a fee and drive through to see the various holiday light displays. I believe this is set up some time in November and ends shortly after xmas. 5. Check out Albany Events.org to see what else is shaking in the park, they do have other events throughout the all too short summer! I'm sure I'm forgetting other festivals that they have. The parking situation here is tough on the weekdays, they only allow 90 minutes parking from 9 AM to 6 PM. Weekends are less restrictive. read more

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Perfect road trip break not far off I-90 and the tulips are in bloom ! Large metro park with ponds, fountains, paved walking paths and lawn space! Parking is along the street where you can legally find it. read more

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Driving by Washington Park on a cloudy Sunday morning, I couldn't help but notice a bronze statue gazing toward the heavens. I parked then walked over to this odd sculpture. Formally called the King Memorial Fountain, it's unofficially known as the Moses Fountain. Henry King, a prominent citizen (you know, a banker) of the late 19th century, had this fountain unveiled in 1893 to memorialize his father, Rufus, himself a prominent citizen (you know, a banker). If I had a family member named Rufus, I would want to memorialize him, too. Great name. Totally underused in the 21st century but I'm digressing. Moses lords over this park and, while there is no sea for him to part, I wouldn't test this muscular bronze guy with the hipster beard. He has a cane and it looks like he knows how to use it. Watch out. read more

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Walked from Ronald McDonald house. Was a perfect place to distract us from a pretty heavy couple days. There's a nice path and very beautiful views with benches to take a load off. read more

This park has been an icon in Albany since I was a kid. Much of the park sports shade on a hot sunny day. I think a bit of maintenence on the pond would be beneficial, it has quite a bit of algae going on. That being said, the upgrades of the pavillion to a "playhouse" is terrific. But where do you park? Old trees were beautiful, dogs are welcome, but what about lease laws? Many dogs not leased in park. Many people were taking advantage of this beautiful day perched on park benches, laying on blankets soaking up the sun, kids playing on the playground. Yes, a beautiful park smack dab in the middle of Albany. read more

Washington Park - Kids area. - Parks Near Me

First time traveller long time passerby. As with most things in life we never truly get to appreciate anything until we are forced to by happenstance. Due to the recent pandemic and transitioning to working remote, I found myself going stir crazy. After deciding to finally walk through the park, instead of only cruising through the Christmas lights once a year, I was blown away by how much was going on. From the beautiful events area, running paths, or the packed basketball courts, there is something for everyone. Parking is ample but highly recommend walking over and stopping by a local coffee shop like 3Fish on Madison for a quite prestroll pick me up. With all the ambient noises of nature and people playing it makes everything feel more wholesome in these weird times! read more

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I've been in the Capital Region for almost a year and I've driven by this park many times, but I've never been inside Washington Park. Today one of my girlfriends invited me to meet her there for a run/walk. The park is beautiful the lawns are well maintained. I love history and was amazed at the amount of history in the park. There are 6 monuments that I was able to visit.... The Moses statue or the King Memorial Statue which honors Moses in the desert at Mt. Horeb, 2. The Henry Johnson Memorial - he was an Albany native that served heroically in the first African American unit of the U.S. Army to engage in combat in World War I. 3. The Soldiers and Sailors' Monument 4. Marinus Willett Memorial dedicated to his patriotic services in defense of Albany and the people of the Mohawk. 5. Robert Burns Statue and 6. Dr. James H. Armsby Memorial. The Lake has a calming effect and is beautiful as you walk around the park and across the bridge in the center of the park. Unfortunately, because of the Pandemic none of the normal events are being held this summer. They usually have theater productions and markets set up. The Lake House was absolutely beautiful and is available for organizations to rent. There is much to do here as well for everyone, there are basketball and tennis courts. I'll be back. read more

Washington Park seems pretty huge from the outside but when you go in it's not too expansive. However, in the summer the bridge which is overlooking the lake is gorgeous (it's closed now but it is reopening in March). Sometimes the park hosts shows, they are open to events (the Pride day parade & Christmas expansions) were held here! & the events seem well coordinated It's also a nice place to run or walk around! Only problem is that not all the roads are paved, there are a lot of dirt roads. read more

Washington Park - Parks Near Me

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Beautiful park with lots of pretty and well maintained paths. One of my favorite places to walk my dogs. There is also an off leash area if you so desire. I did not because my dogs are little terrorists and would have tried to beat up the Irish wolf hounds that were hanging out there. read more

Had great time with the family, the lights were beautiful and well done, with a variety of motives. Brought the girlfriend and her mother. The lake house craft show and decorations we're colorful with a place for photo taking. Which we took a few. I recommend going. read more

Washington Park - Inside the Lake House - Parks Near Me

Very beautiful park. Especially in the Spring. Nice peaceful haven where you can gather your thoughts. Love the serenity.

The light display is beautiful, I like the different themes especially the ones with motions; but $20 per car... regardless of 1 person, 2 or 4 or 7... hmmm, I guess it's a good price for a full van but what if you're the only one on the car or maybe 2. read more

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Recently had the opportunity to explore this park while in Albany for the Tulip festival. Although the park was crowded for the festival, the layout, statues, and grounds seemed nice. There are several monuments that I found fascinating. There were several "hilly" areas that I think kids would enjoy, my friend and I preferred staying on the walking trail. I am thinking it would be a nice place to relax and enjoy if in the city of Albany and you needed to get away from the hustle & noise. read more

This is a great blue area in Albany New York that gives great atmosphere for you and your family to be able to get out and be a part of nature but also just get out and maybe have a picnic or just be apart of something outside of your own home environment, which are things that we may need during this time season. The pictures that I posted are all of the winter type season because they have a great light festival for Christmas time and you're able to sit with Santa and buy certain products from vendors that are local to the community and it really enriches the community as well as well as being a part of the community but during the summer they also have beautiful lakes and places to sit at and open areas and different viewing places where you could just go out and be in this park and it's just a great place to get away from everything. It's very beautiful and I would recommend it to anyone who is in the area and who would like to just see a beautiful place I'm just get away from all the monotony of life just for a little while. Thank you so much for listening. read more

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There's something about this park that makes me want to commit crimes. Well, more like misdemeanors. Especially on gorgeous spring days. I think to myself, "Wouldn't it be lovely to sit on the shade and enjoy a great beer." What makes matters worse is the temptation of Brew just around the corner. And I suppose one could brown-paper-bag-it, but drinking out of bottles or cans just isn't my style. The other thing I think to myself whenever I set foot in Washington Park is, "Wow, this place is beautiful. I should come here more often." And it's true. The park seems to be an underutilized resource right smack within the city of Albany. I'm sure city officials can cite all kinds of good reasons for that, but it's a shame. Right now the tulips are in bloom, and in fact after the crush of humanity that is Tulip Fest might be the best time to see the flowers. But it's always a pleasure to walk into the park and lose myself in the natural beauty of it all. It really does transport me into a different mindset and allows a short break from city life. Even without breaking the law. read more

My wife and I love this place! We have been coming here for 12+ years, since we started dating. The spring and fall times are especially nice when people are out with their dogs enjoying the fresh air and the flowers are in bloom. We frequently attend the Tulip Festival in May, which is just spectacular. Watching the ducks swim around or crossing over the bridge is so peaceful. I am not a winter person but drove through the park for 3 years on the way to law school and saw that people were still out and about. We keep meaning to drive through their festival of lights every December as it looks really fun... perhaps this year? Favorite memory: the time I lost my house/car keys on a Sunday afternoon here and had no way to get home, no way to get into my apartment even if I got a ride there, and no landlord to let me in. Panicking, we had to backtrack through the entire park until we found them under a tree where we had eaten our picnic! UPDATE (12/29/16): The Christmas light display in the park is excellent. For years I put off paying the $10/12 bucks to drive through because I figured the park was small and it wasn't worth the hassle. But, my wife and I went this year and it was amazing. Lots of various light displays, many which moved or had traveling lights, many inside jokes and Christmas themes intertwined, and mid-way stop for crafts and snacks (which we skipped) looked like fun. I highly recommend trying this at least once, though one portion of the lights was so vibrant I thought it might induce a seizure. read more

What a gem in the City of Albany! Washington Park encompasses 90 acres of beautiful landscaping, trees, and vegetation with a lake, historic monuments, memorials, tennis courts, playground, outdoor performing arts center, and paths for walking, running, and bicycling. The Park is maintained by the City of Albany Department of General Services (DGS). Washington Park has some big events such as the annual Tulip Festival in the spring, Lobster Palooza, live performances at the Park Playhouse, Capital Holiday Lights In The Park (http://www.albanycapitalholidaylights.com/) sponsored by the Albany PAL, and some major road races such as the Freihofer's Run For Women and the Corporate Challenge. Almost 10 years ago, I actually ran the Corporate Challenge through Washington Park with my former coworkers. Over the years, my family and I have enjoyed having nice picnic dinners before the shows at the Park Playhouse. Many years ago, it was called the Lakehouse and we enjoyed live shows such as Oklahoma and Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat performed by the Siena Players. Around the holidays, we pack into the car and head over to Washington Park to see the fantastic colorful holiday lights and afterwards sip on some hot cocoa at the Playhouse. Besides recreation, Washington Park serves as a major cut through route between the "Freebie 90" (Exit 6 via Arbor Hill) and the Albany Med area. Watch out! I've seen ambulances fly and cut through the Park. However, I definitely would not recommend walking around the Park late at night because it can feel kind of sketchy here in the darkness of night. Yikes! read more

Great place to... Kill a few hours Read a book Go on a walk, jog or run Have a picnic Lay in the sun Play on a playground Enjoy the scenery People watch read more

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What a beautiful park to visit on a cold blustery day. We parked our car close to the lake and walked down to a bridge that crosses the lake. The lake luckily was frozen and we took the risk of standing over it. Pretty cool photo ops with this activity. There are some beautiful houses nearby as well. I really love the historical architecture paired with the beauty of nature. read more

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This large park near downtown Albany is quite a nice place to get out to enjoy the fresh air. There are plenty of things to distract while on a stroll with sculptures and nice foliage to view. There are places for the kids to run around and spots to sit and rest for a while. If you are looking for some exercise and/or outdoor time, this is a great option. read more

Washington Park - Edge of Washington Park - Parks Near Me

Beautiful park in downtown with lots of walking trails. As I jogged learnt history of Albany and the park. Has a skate park, 6 Tennis courts, 2 BB courts and beautiful Tulips and Moses fountain. Lots of Dog walkers on Sunday morning. Thoroughly enjoyed it. read more

I found this park through the 2016 tulip fest ads when I visited Albany. The park view is awesome, which reminds me of the view at New York City Central Park. read more

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Albany's central park, but obviously much smaller. Has a nice lake-great place to jog. Plenty of beautiful nature. read more

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What a beautiful, historic park in Albany. Even on a frigid day in January, Washington Park had plenty of people out exercising and walking their dogs. The park feels like in belongs in Europe rather than the US, especially when it's surrounding by all the charming brownstones and townhouses on either side. That's not to mention the finally trimmed grass, winding trails and dozens of benches sprinkled about. Let's face it, Albany is a beautiful and historic city. Everyone should plan on a visit to the NY. And every visit demands an excursion to Washington Park. read more

The plants were dying and sad to watch in the sweltering heat. My husband wanted to water the plants. This park really deteriorated from it's glory days. read more

2 laps around the outside track makes for a 5k. Happy running! read more

Washington Park - Washington Park in mid-November - Parks Near Me

Although I myself have always feared using this place, it actually has some pretty good and interesting things in it. From a Tulip festival in the spring, to a large Christmas display at night in the holiday season(special fee for this special attraction), this park has it all. The place is just so peaceful and serene. And the best part, if you are in the neighborhood, you can even walk into the park. One of the only bad things about it, is that it is nearby to a neighborhood that has a financial crisis going on! Keep the windows in your car rolled up or you may find yourself robbed blind by those neighbors nearby(I hate to sound like I'm discriminating against them, but its not positioned in the best/cleanest area of town).. read more

A gem in the heart of Albany. Something for everyone. Plays, playground, dog park, historical significance, and they offer all kind of free entertainment in the summer. The Christmas lights in the park are second to none. read more

Gets a two because the money goes to a good cause. What have we become in America when our idea of tradition is being stuck in traffic looking at Christmas lights. The overflow if the traffic backs up madison lark and lower wash which is already a nitemare. Don't his down at the plaza, have people walk around and spend money with everyone. read more

The annual Tulip Festival is my favorite event for both tulip- and people-watching. Row upon row of fabulous, brilliant flowers. Tons of craft and food vendors. Live music. Free admission. What's not to love? Best to get there before noon to ensure that you'll find a good parking spot. The craft aisles can get really crowded if you're at all claustrophobic--especially if you've got a stroller--but this is true of all festivals. read more