New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on March 20 that the state would go into "PAUSE" mode, meaning that all non-essential workers were ordered to stay home. They can, however, go out for necessary activities like buying food, getting medicine, and exercising. According to the New York Times, experts say walking is both healthy and necessary during the trying reality of city life under new conditions. That may be particularly true in a city where private spaces are as small as New York's often are. While the city’s attractions we know and love may not be open for business right now, some of the large, open, outdoor spaces are. From uptown to downtown, here are some of our favorite places to walk in NYC:
Van Cortlandt Park
The Bronx is New York City's greenest borough (although Staten Island sometimes disagrees), and spending time in Van Cortlandt park is a peaceful way to relish in it. The more than 1,100-acres feel like a forest or jungle within the city, abounding with all kinds of wildlife—oak, red maple, and tulip trees; tiny tree frogs, and white-tailed deer; and cattails, moss, and all kinds of wildflowers, to name just several. The back hills of the cross country trails make great terrain to walk or run, offering cool shade and quiet for miles.
Riverside Park
The vertically sprawling, triple-tiered Riverside Park is ideal for long, meditative walks. The main thoroughfare stretches all the way from the Upper West Side at 72nd Street, through Morningside Heights, and up to Hamilton Heights at 125th Street. Not only does Riverside Park offer the soothing benefit of the rippling, rushing Hudson River by your side, but it's also rich with stony structures that add novel architectural surrounds. Some landmarks of note include the white marble Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Monument, and the Freedom Tunnel, which was once decked out in colorful graffiti but now serves Amtrak trains. On the north end of the park at 150th Street, keep an eye out for the 15-foot sculpture dedicated to Invisible Man author Ralph Ellison.
Astoria Park
If you’ve ever taken the northeast regional out of Penn station, you’ve whirred past Astoria Park from high above, looking down at the lush, grassy waterfront green teeming with doll-sized families, dogs, frisbee-players, joggers, cartwheelers, and picnickers in rain, shine, snow, or mist. Astoria Park is just as lovely when you're splat in the middle of it as when you're taking it in from a bird's eye view. The spit of land lies under the Triborough Bridge, Hell Gate Bridge, and along the East River. Just short of 60 acres, it's one of the most expansive spaces in the nearer part of Queens: go here to do the somersaults the quarantine is just begging your body to perform.
Hudson River Park
Jersey never looked this good before. Its river reflections from across the way sparkle just so. Stretching from 59th Street to Battery Park, Hudson River Park is a great bet for a long walk, run, or bike ride on the west side. Little public lawns on piers off the main drag look like jutting jetties of greenery, and have rails on which you can stretch your legs like a ballerina, if you're into that and are very stir crazy.
Brooklyn Heights Promenade
As the temps get warmer by the day, some of us are missing rooftop bar season more than ever, but luckily we all still have access to those views. And the view from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade is an absolute stunner. The downtown Manhattan skyline vantage is gorgeous—the Brooklyn Bridge, Freedom Tower, and 40 Wall Street in the foreground make an iconic assemblage, one that's particularly special at dusk when the periwinkle sky shimmers on the skyscraper surfaces.
