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Thu / Jun 20
Party Earth Review Perched as it is on Manhattan’s southern edge, it’s easy to see why Battery Park began life as a military compound, and even easier to understand why the twenty-five-acre expanse offers some seriously stellar views. Before... ... read full review
Battery Place to South Street
New York, NY 10004
1, N, R: Whitehall Street-South Ferry / Water Street
212-344-3491
Daily 6am−1am
Financial District, New York –
Perched as it is on Manhattan’s southern edge, it’s easy to see why Battery Park began life as a military compound, and even easier to understand why the twenty-five-acre expanse offers some seriously stellar views.
Before Ellis Island opened its port and the Statue of Liberty set her gaze, it was Battery Park that welcomed New York’s first citizens – though “welcome” might be the wrong word considering that the Dutch installed massive rows of cannons along its banks in the late 1600s.
These days, the park’s long military history, as well as memorials to those fallen in WWII and The Korean War, is commemorated by nearly two dozen monuments tucked beneath verdant trees that lay juxtaposed by towering nearby skyscrapers.
Castle Clinton, an historic brick atrium that’s been used as a fort, immigration depot, theater, and aquarium, now holds the ticket office for the millions who visit Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty every year, while Hope Garden features an AIDS memorial lined with ten thousand roses.
Not surprisingly, tourists often dominate the park’s scene, though a system of bikeways and promenades stays busy with bicyclists and joggers, a small farm attracts the organic minded, and rows of lush plants make the park a favorite for area workers who want a little nature to go with their lunch break.
Whether it’s to pay tribute to those fallen in battle, watch ferries battle the tide, or just escape an overcrowded skyline beneath a blossoming canopy, Battery Park is the perfect place to recharge.
Tourists of every stripe heading to The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, runners, bikers, Financial District workers, folks kicking off a long wander of New York, history buffs, and sustainable gardening aficionados. All ages.
Castle Clinton hosts free summer concert performances.
Around two dozen war memorials on the grounds, including commemorative plaques honoring those who died in WWII, The Korean War, and major sea battles.
Hope Garden features an AIDS memorial lined with ten thousand roses.
One-acre urban farm on site.
Pathways provide ample walk/run/bike options. Many street performers entertain the crowds with breakdancing, caricature painting, and music.
Fatty at The Battery (just east of Castle Clinton) is the kiosk version of a popular Williamsburg chain that serves up Asian-inspired barbecue.
Battery Gardens (Inside Battery Park, opposite 17 State Street) is an upscale restaurant/events space with panoramic waterfront views and a diverse continental menu.
Castle Clinton serves as the ticket office for Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty trips, which leave from gangway 3, 4, and 5, while The New York Water Taxi offers aquatic lifts from gangway 6.
Fatty grub $6–$10. Battery Gardens entrées $15–$36+. Tickets to Ellis Island and Liberty Island/Statue of Liberty $13, with available audio commentary for $21.
Anything goes.
Whenever the weather permits, with spring and summer naturally seeing the biggest crowds.
The Skyscraper Museum (39 Battery Place) is a quick walk away and showcases the cool science behind many of the incredible buildings that make New York’s skyline instantly recognizable.
Battery Park User Reviews