Pelham Bay Park, 3 Times Larger Than Central Park!
Contrary to popular belief, New York's largest green space isn't the famous Central Park. Head to the Bronx, at the end of the subway line 6, to discover Pelham Bay Park—more than 3 times bigger.
If Central Park is Manhattan’s largest park, it’s not the largest in New York City. Central Park is dwarfed by Pelham Bay Park, an 11 km² (4.2 sq mi) park in the Bronx—more than three times the size of Central Park’s 3.41 km² (1.32 sq mi).
The city acquired the land in 1864, but it took several decades before the city decided to develop it as a public park.
The project moved quickly. You’ll find everything here: sports facilities, hiking and riding trails, large picnic areas, and even a 36-hole golf course. Don’t miss the Bartow-Pell Mansion either, a beautiful estate now open as a museum. The Bartow and Pell families tell the story of their lineage and their home.
Orchard Beach, the Bronx Riviera
Another highlight of Pelham Bay Park is the stunning Orchard Beach, nicknamed the Bronx Riviera. This 2 km (1.2 mi) stretch of sand overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, with Connecticut visible on the horizon. The beach is entirely artificial—it was created in 1936 using sand specially imported from nearby New Jersey beaches.
To reach Pelham Bay Park, take the subway line 6 to its final stop, Pelham Bay Park station. You’ll spend an afternoon or full day with the welcoming residents of the Bronx, people who are proud to share their neighborhood with visitors. It’s another way to experience New York.
Orchard Beach. (Photo Shannon McGee)