Park barbecues: Where to grill in NYC this summer
The park barbecue is a great Memorial Day, Fourth of July or Labor Day standby. Gather your friends and fire up the grill in one of these park barbecue areas.
Tue May 7 2013
If you're like us, you've gazed wistfully at the park barbecues in Prospect Park, admiring the BBQ and plentiful sides that line the picnic tables. Well, stand on the edges no longer—it's summer in NYC and there's a grill in a New York park just waiting for you. Consider this your go-to guide for nabbing a great spot on Memorial Day and other long weekends.
RECOMMENDED: Get outdoors in NYC
Grilling 101
1. All parks prohibit open fires, ground fires and propane.2. Keep grills at least ten feet away from trees and overhead branches.
3. Parties of 20 or more in city parks must obtain a special-events permit for $25 (processing takes approximately one month) (Manhattan: 212-408-0226; Brooklyn: 718-965-8912; Queens: 718-393-7272; nyceventpermits.nyc.gov/parks).
4. Dispose of coals in the marked drums, or extinguish with water and wrap in foil before putting in a nearby Dumpster.
Manhattan parks with barbecuing areas
Riverside Park
- Critics choice
- Free
One of Manhattan’s more scenic areas, this four-mile stretch of waterfront has perhaps the city’s most idyllic grilling hangout. Cookouts are permitted anywhere north of West 145th Street, affording you and your friends plenty of room to spread out. And you’ll need your pals to help lug the equipment; it’s BYOG (bring your own grill).
- North of W 145th St on the Hudson River. Enter at Riverside Dr and W 145th St
East River Park
- Free
The six grills and picnic tables at this barbecue spot are in high demand, and for good reason. The park provides panoramic views of Brooklyn and a riverfront promenade perfect for walking off those calories. Don’t just show up and expect to nab a spot, however: You need a permit no matter the group size, so be sure to book your party early. Enter at FDR Dr and E 10th St
- Enter at FDR Dr and 10th St
Morningside Park
- Free
Past the masonry wall and down the stairs lies a tucked-away world of winding, flower-lined pathways that you would normally encounter in a storybook. Since you'll have to BYOG (bring your own grill) to this party, you might want to delegate the sausages to someone else.
- Enter at Morningside Ave at W 121st St
Thomas Jefferson Park
- Free
It's only a few blocks long, but they've packed this park with features: It has a swimming pool, a large playgrounds, full recreation center and picnic area to boot. Again, you need to provide your own grill (though there are some on site) so bring a few friends to help you carry it all. If there are enough of you, you might even work your meal off with a soccer game afterward.
- First Ave, (between 111th and 114th Sts)
More Manhattan grill spots
- Inwood Hill Park (Enter at Payson Ave and Dyckman St)
- Highbridge Park (Enter at W 177th St and Amsterdam Ave)
- Fort Washington Park (Enter at W 158th St and Henry Hudson Pkwy)
- Randalls Island Park (Enter at Randall's Island Rd and Triborough Plaza)
- St. Nicholas Park (Enter at St. Nicholas Terr and W 128th St)
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