8. Elizabeth Street Garden

When the term “green space” is used in relation to New York City, Soho isn’t the first place that comes to mind. Which is why the Elizabeth Street Garden, located between Prince and Spring Streets, is a 20,000 square foot garden that is one of the neighborhood’s best kept secrets. As Untapped Cities previously wrote about, the garden has been in danger of closing for years, but neighborhood advocates and allies have rallied to keep the garden alive. They argue that the garden is the “only calm green space, providing a much-needed sanctuary for local residents of all ages.” The garden is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm and there are a variety of activities offered, including community gardening, yoga for kids, tai chi and live music.