3. Elevated Acre

In one of the busiest neighborhoods in New York City, hidden green spaces can be hard to find. But the Elevated Acre, tucked three stories above street level at 55 Water Street is open 24 hours, 7 days a week. It offers a beautiful unobstructed view of the Brooklyn skyline. Set back from the sidewalk, people often overlook its escalator entrance, meaning you’ll find more locals catching up with friends during their lunch break than you will tourists.

The Elevated Acre was built in the early 1970s, the product of the new 1961 zoning regulation that allowed for bonus height in exchange for a public plaza. While there has been a public space here since the building was built, the latest iteration of the Elevated Acre was completed in 2005 by Rogers Marvel Architects, designers of other public spaces including Bronx’s Mill Pond Park, Washington DC’s Constitution Gardens, and Jersey City’s Berry Lane Park. The architects turned the barren deck space into a vibrant public park, which also has programming like movies and performances.