NYC & Company, the official destination marketing organization and convention and visitors bureau for the five boroughs of New York, is encouraging locals and regional visitors to take a “NYC-cation” by heading to a beach in Staten Island, the Bronx River Greenway, or a sculpture park in Queens.
Taking a staycation in the five boroughs is just one of the ways that working New Yorkers can support the City and local businesses, if they are able, and help more than 400,000 tourism and hospitality industry workers get back to work.
Visitors to the five boroughs are encouraged to wear masks, practice social distancing, and wash/sanitize their hands frequently, as indicated in the Stay Well NYC Pledge from NYC & Company.
Here’s a brief selection of what’s open, including places to visit:
• The Bronx: Take a trip to the Bronx River Greenway and enjoy walking, biking, and rollerblading paths, boat launches, and restored salt marshes. With approximately 20 miles of the greenway currently available for public use, including parks built on former industrial sites as well as long-standing park areas, the still-developing project is reclaiming the waterfront and improving the quality of life for Bronx residents.
• Brooklyn: Check out Brooklyn’s oldest park, Commodore Barry Park, home to over 10 acres of public facilities and green space, including sports fields and playgrounds.
While in the neighborhood, visit the recently renovated Building 77 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, which exemplifies how high-density manufacturing can thrive in urban environments.
Don’t forget to also check out a mural from All In NYC: Public Art Edition by Carrie Mae Weems, “Resist Covid/ Take 6.” Hosted by For Freedoms, Weems’ mural We Go On! is part of her larger project “Resist” to raise public awareness about Covid-19 among people of color — Black, Brown, and Native American communities, who are disproportionately impacted by the deadly virus — promoting preventive measures and dispelling harmful falsehoods. Explore nearby Fort Greene Park, which offers yoga in the park on Saturday mornings from 11 AM to noon. Pre-registration online is required.
• Manhattan: Manhattan is home to so many iconic neighborhoods, but spend some time in Union Square and the Flatiron District. On Fridays and Saturdays, Union Square hosts the Union Square Greenmarket, an open-air market where shoppers can browse seasonal fresh produce, locally sourced honey, baked goods, and fresh flowers.
The Flatiron District is famous for the iconic building at its center, with a unique triangular shape. The neighborhood is home to Madison Square Park, Shake Shack, Eataly, and The Shop at Fotografiska, which is open while the renowned photography museum reopened last August. The Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership is also currently promoting the All In Flatiron Dining Deals, offering online and in-person discounts from nearly 30 neighborhood restaurants in conjunction with NYC & Company’s All In NYC campaign.
Randall’s Island is another great place to visit this fall. With over 380 acres of parkland, Randall’s Island features more than nine miles of waterfront paths, the Scylla Playground, Sportime Tennis Center, barbecue and picnic areas, and more.
Photo: Flat Iron Building by Pisaphotography/Shutterstock[/caption>
• Queens: Home to Socrates Sculpture Park, an open studio and exhibition space for artists, as well as a neighborhood park. Once an abandoned landfill, the site now houses the internationally renowned outdoor museum and park, offering a variety of free family programs and a place to picnic or walk along the East River with views of the Manhattan skyline. Currently on display is Monuments Now, which seeks to address the role of monuments in society and commemorate underrepresented narratives, such as diasporic, Indigenous, and queer stories. After visiting the park, explore more of Long Island City, a vibrant mixed-use community just one subway stop from Manhattan. The neighborhood is dotted with early 20th-century industrial buildings that have been transformed into galleries, museums, and studios, and there is a rapidly growing list of must-visit restaurants, shops, and performance venues. Enjoy the views at Gantry Plaza State Park on the East River or grab a bite at one of LIC’s many outdoor dining spots, like Sweetleaf, Beebes, or M. Wells Steakhouse.
• Staten Island: One of the most popular spots in Staten Island during the summer months is South Beach. Just a ferry ride from Lower Manhattan, one of Staten Island’s sandiest neighborhoods, South Beach offers sun-soaked fun via a 2.5-mile boardwalk. In addition to plenty of safe sunbathing space along the shore, the neighborhood features the Ocean Breeze fishing pier, one of the largest in the City, as well as a park specifically for seniors that includes checker tables, bocce courts, and many benches in a small beachfront amusement park.
VIVIANE FAVER
Journalist
vfaver@gmail.com