Parks

Newtown Creek Nature Walk

The industrial zone of Newtown Creek may be the last place you’d expect to find a nature walk, but that’s what makes the Newtown Creek Nature Walk so special. The quarter-mile walkway is architectural, designed by environmental sculpture artist George Trakas and planted with indigenous trees, plants, and flowers. One spot, pictured above, actually steps down into the creek itself, a bold move for a waterway not commonly associated with leisure.

The beginning of the walk can be a little tricky to find: Walk to the intersection of Provost Street and Paidge Avenue. Turn left on Provost Street, walking along the perimeter fence of the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant.

WNYC Transmitter Park

Transmitter Park replaced the old WNYC radio transmission towers with a host of trendy urbanist amenities, such as a pedestrian bridge and esplanade, in addition to a children’s play fountain. The park also includes a pier that juts out into the East River, an open lawn, and a publicly accessible wetland area, all crammed into 1.6 acres. Definitely check it out for the unobstructed views of the Midtown Manhattan skyline – its still less populated than the overcrowded East River State Park in Williamsburg.