10. Paley Park – 53rd Street, Between Madison and 5th Avenues
At last, we have Paley Park, another of New York’s privately owned public spaces (POPS), hidden in a small alcove on 53rd Street between Madison and 5th Avenues. The area, much like Greenacre Park, is frequented by readers looking to relax on its chairs and enjoy its nearly 20-foot waterfall. Its ivy covered walls have been shutting out the sounds of the city since it opened in the 1960s. The area was once the site of the Stork Club, which from 1929 to 1965 was one of the most prestigious social clubs in the city, and just a few steps down is a piece of the Berlin Wall.
Next, see a photography exploration of Manhattan’s privately owned public spaces and the Top 10 Indoor Public Spaces in Manhattan for Your Very Own Urban Oasis. Get in touch with the author @jinwoochong.