10. Stuyvesant Cove Park runs right between a gas station, a power plant, and a highway

Part of what makes Stuyvesant Cove Park so special is its location. It is a rare natural place amidst a bustling city. Nearby, the FDR highway roars at all hours of the night, and the Con Ed plant produces its 30 billion pounds of steam every year.

In between it all is this small park and beach, overlooking the river. It is an example of a manmade place taken back by nature, and now it offers humans and animals alike a beautiful space to ponder the world.

For more, check out this article about 7 man-made beaches in NYC and this article about the top 10 secrets of NYC’s Fort Tryon Park.