Riverside Park
A waterside park with public art, sports fields and a nature sanctuary on Manhattan's Upper West Side
Stretching from 62nd to 158th Streets along Manhattan's West Side, Riverside Park is a vast expanse of green space on the edge of the Hudson River. The park is home to beautiful gardens, sports facilities, public art, and some of the most stunning river views available as you stroll along the landscaped paths.
Riverside Park is also a bike riding paradise. A scenic bike trail begins at 158th Street at the north end of the park and continues south through Hudson River Park before concluding at the tip of Manhattan in The Battery, where you can rest and gaze out at the harbor and the Statue of Liberty. It is one of the more memorable bike rides you could ever enjoy.
The park is a great place to reconnect with the water that surrounds Manhattan. The newly renovated historic Pier 1 at 70th Street is now open, allowing visitors to get up close to the water, enjoy the views, or to even launch a kayak or canoe. For inexperienced sailors, The Downtown Boathouse offers instructional kayak courses.
Hundreds of local residents enjoy the recreational facilities in the park including the baseball fields, tennis courts and a skate park. The park also offers evening yoga and pilates classes in the warmer months, so you can bring a mat and stretch out by the water.
For those visitors looking for something a bit less strenuous, the park is also the site of a bird sanctuary. Located between 116th and 129th Streets, restoration work has returned the area to a more natural and appealing habitat for bird species. Visitors can quietly stroll its paths keeping an eye out for the many birds that visit the park.
Riverside Park has been a neighborhood favorite since its construction at the turn of the century. Fredrick Law Olmsted, who also helped design Central Park, meant for the space to connect the city to its waterfront and provide a green space for recreation. Today, the park is filled with public art and memorials, playgrounds, and sports fields, making the space a favorite of athletes, kids, and nature lovers alike.
