With a storied past, midtown Manhattan’s Bryant Park has become very popular with tourists and residents for relaxing or getting active. Walk around the grounds or engage in one of the park’s many games and activities.
Glance around the park to see what other visitors are doing. Then decide where to start. Tables are set up for chess and backgammon. A Games Host provides supplies and instructions for more than 50 board games.
For more action, play ping-pong or practice putting on the 5-hole green. Try unusual activities for this part of the world. Kubb is a form of Scandinavian lawn bowling. Pétanque is a French game of boules, a bit like bocce. In winter, rent skates and skate for free on the outdoor rink. Visit 125 holiday shops selling all kinds of gifts.
Buy tickets for the kids to ride on Le Carrousel. Bring them to the Art Cart from April to October, where they can be creative using free art and craft supplies and helpful instruction.
The park’s grounds include wide promenades lined by tall London plane trees, several flower beds of colorful bulbs and perennials and a spacious lawn perfect for picnicking. Stop at the kiosks and food carts in the park and restaurants along the street for a wide selection of simple treats and gourmet items.
Borrow books and magazines from the Reading Room. Listen to a public reading or casual concert, watch a film, see a Shakespearean play or take classes in subjects ranging from juggling to foreign languages. Check the busy events schedule online.
The site served many purposes over its history, including potter’s field, exhibition center and army encampment site, before becoming Bryant Park in 1884. After years of occupancy by drug traffickers, city planners turned the park around. Enjoy their efforts today in this pleasant spot.
From Times Square, follow Broadway’s pedestrian mall for 10 minutes to reach Bryant Park. Relax or energize in the park between early morning and late evening. You can even work here, using the free Wi-Fi while sipping a coffee at one of the small green tables.
