NEW YORK—Though we live in an urban setting, everyone is linked to the city’s parks in some way. Whether it’s the place dog owners walk their dogs, the grass that students lie on while reading on a hot summer day, the benches office workers sit on during a lunch break, or the playgrounds that are filled with happy children on snow days.
The Epoch Times asks, which one among the city’s more than 1,700 parks, playgrounds, and recreation facilities is your favorite?
Ronny Deaza, 28, Dog Walker, the Bronx
I really love all of the parks. I mean there is a park every five or six blocks, that’s just amazing for a city this big. I like the ones with dog grounds because I can walk my dogs there. In New Jersey they have bigger dog grounds. Maybe that’s something they can work on here.
Javier Louis, 18, Student, Brooklyn
My favorite park is Union Square Park. There’s something about the atmosphere there. It’s always full of people, lively and all of the people are so friendly. I usually go with my friends and we just chill and relax. They do a good job maintaining the park there, though I always hope it can be cleaner and that there can be more bathrooms.
Caroline Davis, 30, Management Planner, New Jersey
My favorite park is the Madison Square Park. It’s not like Central Park. Not that big. But it’s very clean, and I think they are doing a great job maintaining it. They put up great art pieces there as well.
Ella Brushanzky and Efrat Roman, 40s, Writer and Artist, Israel
We love every park, but Central Park is the best because it’s so big and interesting. New York City parks are different. They are surrounded by really tall buildings but yet still give you a great view. That’s why we love them.
Samuel Jacob, 65, Therapist and Meditation Teacher, Manhattan
I’ve lived close to the Madison Square Park for over 35 years, and witnessed its development from a dirty, dangerous, and unfriendly place into the great park it is today. By dangerous I mean you could get mugged and robbed here, until about seven years ago they really started doing a great job building it. It’s like a little oasis in the city. Central Park is of course, the park. But it’s great to have the Madison Square Park so close, and I can always come to read books or take a break from work.
