America's Most Popular City Parks

[summersm343]

1. Central Park- New York City
2. Union Square Park- New York City
3. Bryant Park- New York City
4. High Line Park- New York City
5. Madison Square Park- New York City
6. Washington Square Park- New York City
7. Millennium Park- Chicago
8. Boston Common- Boston
9. Mission Dolores Park- San Francisco
10. Rittenhouse Square- Philadelphia
11. National Mall- Washington D.C.
12. Dupont Circle- Washington D.C.
13. Prospect Park- Brooklyn, New York City
14. Piedmont Park- Atlanta
15. Zilker Park- Austin
16. Battery Park- New York City
17. Green Lake Park- Seattle
18. McCarren Park- Brooklyn, New York City
19. Golden Gate Park- San Francisco
20. Tompkins Square Park- New York City

http://www.travelandleisure.com/arti...r-city-parks/1

[summersm343]

Very surprised that the Independence National Park in Philadelphia is not on the list.

[Cirrus]

Looks about right to me... As far as these things go, I mean.

[THE BIG APPLE]

Central Park is right on the money, maybe even the world. BUT there's been alot of rapes going on there (even during the DAY).

[Austinlee]

My favorite is "hey yo need some crack?" park in every city,

[Crawford]

Originally Posted by THE BIG APPLE

Central Park is right on the money, maybe even the world. BUT there's been alot of rapes going on there (even during the DAY).

There has been one reported rape in the Central Park Precinct over the last two years.

I have no idea if that precinct coverrs only Central Park or Central Park and environs, but I don't think that one = a lot.

[THE BIG APPLE]

^ Yeah just recently a 73 yr old birdwatcher was raped in Strawberry Fields. In the beginning of 2011 a jogger, and another person at the end of 2011. BTW one more recent one in 2012 in Hudson River Park. Only thing is how do you rape a 73 yr old during the day (or at all for a matter of fact).

[Flyers2001]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Very surprised that the Independence National Park in Philadelphia is not on the list.

Since all the recent construction of the buildings it looks nothing like a park. It does look a lot better though.

I guess since the Official name is JFK Plaza, "Love Park" doesn't make the cut.

And Fairmount Park is more popular and used than Rittenhouse.

[rs913]

Based on foursquare check-ins, huh? That's not a bad measure, though it's not perfect....probably skews towards white-collar types and hipsters.

That would definitely explain why Mission Dolores Park ranks above Golden Gate Park in SF. MDP is hipster central. In all fairness, it's also a great spot.


(source: http://www.familyvacationcritic.com/...lores-park.jpg)

[Quixote]

Amazing that Golden Gate Park would rank so low because it's not centrally located. That it ranks lower than many parks I've never even heard of is a real head-scratcher.

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by Flyers2001

Since all the recent construction of the buildings it looks nothing like a park. It does look a lot better though.

I guess since the Official name is JFK Plaza, "Love Park" doesn't make the cut.

And Fairmount Park is more popular and used than Rittenhouse.

1. Yeah, I guess the buildings kinda throw everything off, but Independence Park is still ABSOLUTELY a park. Especially if they are considering the National Mall in D.C. a park.

2. Love Park is very populated... but I wouldn't call it a popular park. Most Native Philadelphians despise Love Park (not the LOVE symbol, just the park) the same way native New Yorkers despise Times Square.

3. Fairmount Park may be used MORE, but I wouldn't call it more popular. Also, Fairmount Park is MUCH larger. Rittenhouse is smaller and usually more congested because of it. A lot of people think Rittenhouse is the "it" spot of Philadelphia and they aren't entirely wrong. I would say Rittenhouse Square is certainly the most popular park in Philly.

[Kingofthehill]

McCarren Park more popular than Prospect Park? Huh?

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by Westsidelife

Amazing that Golden Gate Park would rank so low because it's not centrally located. That it ranks lower than many parks I've never even heard of is a real head-scratcher.

The reason it is not Centrally located is probably THE main reason it did not rank higher for the same reason Fairmount Park in Philadelphia did not rank. Also, the size of the park could have something to do with it. As stated above, Fairmount Park on any given day probably has 50 times the population that Rittenhouse has... however, since Rittenhouse is smaller it is more congested and Rittenhouse is also consider the "it" spot and it is centrally located, so that could be another reason it was ranked higher.

[summersm343]

If Reading Viaduct Park ever gets constructed in Philadelphia, I would be interested to see if that would rank.

[Segun]

Lincoln Park would definitely get more mentions than Millennium Park, especially with the lakefront right at its border. Except:
- lots of people aren't aware of the actual geographic borders of the park
- it gets confused with the neighborhood Lincoln Park
- it has its own major attractions such as North Avenue Beach

[Chapelo]

Kinda surprised Balboa Park isn't on this list. Then again, it's not really that widely known outside of Southern California.

[rs913]

Well, again, it's based on foursquare check-ins, not actual foot traffic counts (which would be more or less impossible).

Maybe certain parks just have more of a pull in making people want to check in on foursquare and tell the world they're visiting that park?

[Crawford]

Originally Posted by Kingofthehill

McCarren Park more popular than Prospect Park? Huh?

Agreed, that's ridiculous. Prospect Park is very, very heavily used, and much bigger than McCarren Park.

Flushing Meadows Corona Park is supposedly the busiest park in NYC outside of Manhattan. That probably makes sense, given the density of surrounding neigborhoods, and all the amenities.

If it's based on Foursquare check-ins, that probably explains things. Flushing Meadows is probably most heavily used by Latin American, Asian, and Eastern European immigrants. Not exactly a hipster park.

[volguus zildrohar]

Originally Posted by summersm343

If Reading Viaduct Park ever gets constructed in Philadelphia, I would be interested to see if that would rank.

The surrounding area would keep a Reading Viaduct park lower on the list no matter how nice the park itself might be - note that every one of the top ten parks (well, I've only been to nine of the top 10 so I can't speak for them all) is in a desirable part of its respective city. You could argue for Race Street Pier, even, but it looks like they're mainly speaking 'main downtown parks'. Otherwise, I have a hard time seeing how St. Louis' Forest Park doesn't make the list.

[summersm343]

Originally Posted by volguus zildrohar

The surrounding area would keep a Reading Viaduct park lower on the list no matter how nice the park itself might be - note that every one of the top ten parks (well, I've only been to nine of the top 10 so I can't speak for them all) is in a desirable part of its respective city. You could argue for Race Street Pier, even, but it looks like they're mainly speaking 'main downtown parks'. Otherwise, I have a hard time seeing how St. Louis' Forest Park doesn't make the list.

well to be fair, the West Side of Manhattan was not really a desirable spot until the High Line was complete. The hope is the same thing will happen for Callowhill once the Reading Viaduct Park is complete. While it's not necessarily a desired area now, the park will make it one. This area is pretty much next on the list of redevelopment and it is already starting to see some.

I agree though that it seems to be mainly "downtown" or "centralized" parks