Septuagesimo Uno

Remember that Parks and Recreation episode that sees Leslie Knope building the smallest park in Indiana? In NYC, that distinction goes to the .04-acre Septuagesimo Uno (Latin for “71”). Sandwiched between two Upper West Side brownstones, this micropark was built in the 1960s as part of Mayor John Lindsay’s “vest-pocket park” initiative, which involved transforming derelict lots into green spaces. This narrow, bench-lined alley, shaded by bamboo leaves and a single tree, makes for a surprisingly Zenlike urban escape. (Bonus points if you make out with Adam Scott while you’re there.)