Central, Prospect Parks Largely Reopened; Many Parks Still Closed

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Central Park was back open Saturday – five days after Superstorm Sandy struck the area – but many major city parks remained closed.

The Parks Department reported Saturday morning that Central Park was open, but certain facilities in the park remained closed. All playgrounds remained off limits, along with the Reservoir running track, the North Meadow Ballfields, the Great Lawn Ballfields, the Sheep Meadow, the North Woods, parts of the Ramble, and some smaller landscapes.

Prospect Park in Brooklyn was also back open, except for Lincoln Road Playground, Nellie's Lawn, and all wooded areas. Red Hook Park in Brooklyn had also reopened, except for areas along Bay Street between Court and Clinton streets, and on Columbia Street across from Ikea.

Several other major parks remained completely closed, including:

• Fort Tryon Park in Manhattan, home to the Cloisters;
• Inwood Hill Park in Manhattan;
• Riverside Park in Manhattan, between 116th and 125th streets;
• The High Line in Manhattan;
• Union Square in Manhattan;
• Bronx Park in the Bronx, home to the Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Garden;
• Crotona Park in the Bronx;
• Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx;
• Brooklyn Bridge Park in Brooklyn, home to Jane's Carousel;
• The Brooklyn Heights Promenade in Brooklyn;
• Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn;
• Alley Pond Park in Queens;
• Clearview Park and Golf Course in Queens;
• Crocheron Park in Queens;
• Cunningham Park in Queens;
• Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens;
• Highland Park in Queens;
• Kissena Park in Queens;
• Fresh Kills Park in Staten Island;
• Saw Mill Creek Marsh in Staten Island;
• Silver Lake Park in Staten Island.

Several smaller parks and playlots also remain closed.

All museums and recreational facilities in the affected parks also remained closed Tuesday. The Cloisters Museum was set to reopen to the public on Tuesday, while the Union Square Greenmarket has moved to 23rd Street and Broadway across from Madison Square Park. The New York Aquarium on Coney Island also remains closed.