Free Parks of NYC

New York City Parks are beautiful! We encourage you to take advantage of all the government parks our city has to offer, especially on the days they are free. View comments.

Alley Pond Environment Center
228-06 Northern Boulevard Douglaston NY 11363
(718) 229-4000
Open year-round, the center holds animal, science and nature programs for children, adults and families with free admission to its many densely-wooded trails. Don't miss the Adventure Course.

Battery Park
Accessible from State Street and Battery Place, adjacent to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal
There are no fees for any activities or events at Battery Park. The Park includes a conservatory, a castle, gardens, and free events. See Battery Park City Parks Conservancy for a list of the different areas.

Brooklyn Botanical Garden
Free Tuesdays and Saturdays 10am - 12pm and weekdays November 20 - February 29
1000 Washington Avenue Brooklyn NY 11225
718-623-7200
The Brooklyn Botanical Garden offers specialty gardens and world-class plant collections in its 52 acres. Seniors receive free admission on Fridays. Guided tours are free and offered at 1pm on weekends with no reservations required.

Enjoy the 260 acres of Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve located on the southwest tip of Staten Island. The preserve contains a variety of unique habitats, such as wetlands, ponds, sand barrens, spring-fed streams and woodlands. Visitors may picnic, hike designated trails, and ride horses on the bridal paths (horses are not available to rent)

Central Park is the most famous park in NYC. At 843 acres, Central Park allows visitors to forget they are in the middle of the city with large green lawns, winding forrested trails, a pond, a lake, fountains, and quaint overpasses. Volunteers lead free tours and self-guided tours of the park's history, ecology and design. You can also attend a teen-led tour.

Evergreen Cemetery
Sundays at 11am at the Bushwick Avenue Gate
1629 Bushwick Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11207-1849
(718) 455-5300
The cemetery boasts a number of celebrities and historical memorials.

Fort Tryon Park
Entrance at Margaret Corbin Circle - Fort Washington Avenue and Cabrini Boulevard
Visit Fort Tryon Park (surrounding The Cloisters) a 67-acre park with the notable 3-acre beautiful Heather Garden. The park has amazing views of the water and cute walkig trails. Free tours of the Heather Garden take place Sundays at 1PM- meet at the stone pillars at the park's Margaret Corbin Circle entrance.

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
(718) 318-4340
It is the largest bird sanctuary (more than 325 bird species can be found) in the Northeastern United States and the best place in New York City to observe migrating birds. Encompassing 9,155 acres, the refuge's diverse habitats include salt marsh, upland field and woods, several fresh and brackish water ponds and an open expanse of bay. Come if you enjoy bird-watching, hiking, fishing and interpretive tours.

The Green-Wood Cemetery
Free on your own
500-25th Street Brooklyn New York 11232-1317
(718) 768-7300
This cemetery was one of the leading tourist attraction by the 1850’s, attracting 500,000 visitors per year. From 1850 to 1900, no American cemetery interrered more political leaders than Green-Wood. Buried here are Civil War generals, murder victims, victims of mass tragedies, inventors, and artists. The cemetery also features beautiful grounds, scupture, architecture, and bird watching.

NY Botanical Garden
Free Wednesdays all day and Saturdays 10am - 12pm
Bronx River Parkway at Fordham Road Bronx NY 10458
(718) 817-8700
Located in the Bronx on 240 acres, the NY Botanical Garden is a wonderful getaway from busy city life. Open year round, the park contains collections of various and exotic flowers, vegetables, forests, a conservatory, a reflecting pool, and bunnies.

The largest NYC park is Pelham Bay Park at 2,700 acres and admission is always free. The park holds many free events.

Propect Park's 585-acre is located in the heart of Brooklyn and features the 90-acre Long Meadow, the 60-acre Lake, and Brooklyn’s only forest. Check out the free events and free wifi. There are also free bidwatching and "Discovery Tours".

Queens Botanical Garden
Free every day
43-50 Main Street Flushing NY 11355
(718) 886-3800
The park contains many different gardens within its 39 acres, including a bee garden. The gardens are open Tuesdays through Sundays year round.

Queens County Farm Museum
Free except on special event days
73-50 Little Neck Parkway Floral Park, NY 11004
(718) 347-3276
New York City's largest remaining tract of undisturbed farmland and is only working historical farm in the city. The 47-acres includes historic farm buildings, a greenhouse complex, livestock, farm vehicles and implements, planting fields, an orchard and herb garden.

Staten Island Botanical Garden
Free every day
1000 Richmond Terrace Staten Island NY 10301
(718) 273-8200
The grounds are open from dawn to dusk and include different gardens.

Wave Hill
Free Tuesdays and Saturdays 9am - noon
West 249th Street & Independence Avenue Bronx NY 10471
(718) 549-3200
Come see the public garden and culture center in the Bronx with gorgeous views of the Hudson River. It is open year round. There are 28 acres of gardens, grounds, and woodland. In addition, free garden tours begin at the Perkins Visitor Center every Sunday at 2:15pm.

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