Photo: Amyarmi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
A hilly park on the Brooklyn–Queens border with sweeping views, playgrounds and the wooded Ridgewood Reservoir basins, a surprisingly wild spot for bird-watching.
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Open daily; most NYC parks open 6 AM–1 AM
Free
Pick a date to add it to your plans.
All ages.
Free
Open daily; most NYC parks open 6 AM–1 AM
Highland Park, 11208, in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn.
No. Highland Park is outdoors, so plan for weather, sunscreen and water.
New York City's largest state park, built on former landfills along Jamaica Bay, with 10 miles of trails, waterfront piers, a free bike library, learn-to-kayak classes and Tot Time for toddlers.
A 500-plus-acre Queens park dominated by one of the borough's biggest oak forests, with hiking and horse trails, the restored Strack Pond, playgrounds and a historic carousel.
A ranger visitor center in Queens' Forest Park, which holds one of the borough's largest continuous oak forests. Rangers use it for nature walks and family programs; the center opens by appointment.
Free ranger-led walks, wildlife watches and nature activities for families in Queens parks such as Forest Park and Fort Totten Park. Rangers teach kids to spot birds, identify trees, explore shorelines and learn outdoor skills, with seasonal events like wildlife festivals.
A Brooklyn park by Jamaica Bay with playgrounds, ball fields and paths near restored wetland edges.
New York City's only publicly accessible aquaponics farm, where fish and plants grow together in a recirculating system. Visitors can tour the Brooklyn farm to see carp, catfish and prawns alongside vegetables and herbs, and youth programs are offered.