Where To Picnic In NYC This Spring: 5 Best Parks
By Deirdre Haggerty
Warm weather brings outdoor recreation and city dwellers love to eat in the open air. New York City offers expansive parks dedicated to a picnic in the sun. Choose from scenic views, grassy knolls or waterfront sights. Each of the 5 best places to picnic in New York City this spring and summer offer either a romantic setting or fun for the whole family.
Related: NYC's 10 Best Picnic Spots
Fort Tryon Park
Riverside Drive - Broadway
New York, NY 10040
(212) 795-1388
www.forttryonparktrust.org
Sixty-plus acres of city, state and national landmarks await picnickers at Fort Tryon Park. Additionally, having The Cloisters on site offers more than just a day in the sun. John D. Rockefeller purchased the land and donated it to the city to house classic works "dedicated to the art, architecture, and gardens of medieval Europe."
Central Park Bow Bridge
Mid Park 72nd St.
New York, NY
(212) 310-6600
www.centralpark.com
Exploring Central Park: Eat, See Play
The Bow Bridge of Central Park is noted as the epitome of romantic areas within the city due to a picturesque scenic view of the water and the bridge that connects the flowers of Cherry Hill to the woodlands of the Ramble.
Governors Island
Upper New York Harbor
New York, NY 10004
(212) 825-3045
www.govisland.com
More: Best Things To Do This Spring In NYC
Governors Island reopens for the season on May 1, and will be open to the public select hours every day of the week until October. The island is accessible via Brooklyn or Lower Manhattan. Visitors are permitted to bring their own food, use any of the picnic tables throughout the island, reserve a grilling station, or chow down on delights from one of the many food trucks on site.
Prospect Park
95 Prospect Park West
Brooklyn, NY 11215
(718) 965-8951
www.prospectpark.org
More: NYC Spring Food Festival Guide
Picnicking is allowed throughout Prospect Park, with designated areas for barbecuing. Pack a basket or purchase your picnic lunch at the Greenmarket and/or visit Smorgasburg every Sunday from April through October for delicious eats.
Brooklyn Bridge Park
334 Furman St.
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 222-9939
www.brooklynbridgepark.org
Exploring Williamsburg: Eat, See And Play
Over 85 acres on the Brooklyn side of the East River comprise the Brooklyn Bridge Park, with one of the most famous and picturesque views of New York City. Choose to set up at one of their many tables and grills, or lay down a blanket on the grass in the many picnic areas. Finish the day with delicious ice cream from the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory on the Fulton Landing Pier.
