Riverside Park runs four miles up Manhattan's western edge, from 72nd Street to 158th, hugging the Hudson River the entire way. It's narrow — barely an eighth of a mile across in most stretches — so on a map it reads as a green ribbon rather than the rectangle Central Park makes. Frederick Law Olmsted took over the design in 1873, working with the site's uneven, rocky terrain instead of grading it flat, and Calvert Vaux and Samuel Parsons Jr. extended his plan over the following decades. Ask an Upper West Sider where they actually go to sit by the water, walk the dog or watch the sun go down, and it's rarely Central Park. It's this one.
The 79th Street Boat Basin and rotunda
The Boat Basin sits at 79th Street, marked by a three-story rotunda that doubles as a traffic circle and an entrance ramp to the Henry Hudson Parkway, ringed by a tile-ceilinged arcade with a seasonal café. The marina itself — it once held over a hundred boat slips — is currently closed for a multi-year reconstruction, with reopening expected around 2028, so don't plan a trip around seeing boats docked there right now. The rotunda, the surrounding esplanade and the river views are still very much open and worth the stop regardless.
Grant's Tomb
At 122nd Street, set in the median of Riverside Drive, Grant's Tomb — officially the General Grant National Memorial — holds the remains of Ulysses S. Grant and his wife Julia. Dedicated in 1897 and modeled on the ancient Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, it's the largest mausoleum in North America, run by the National Park Service, and free to enter. It's an odd, slightly overlooked landmark for how much history it holds — most tourists who've heard of it have only heard the joke about who's buried there.
Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument
At 89th Street, opposite the park along Riverside Drive, the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument has stood since 1902, honoring the Union Army and Navy veterans of the Civil War. It's a smaller, quieter counterpart to Grant's Tomb further north — but it's been closed and fenced off since 2017, when inspections found drainage problems threatening the retaining walls. A restoration is underway, with completion currently expected around the end of 2027, so treat it as a landmark to view from outside rather than a spot to sit at for now.
Hippo Playground and the park's other playgrounds
Hippo Playground, at 91st Street near Riverside Drive, gets its name from the hippo sculptures scattered through the play area and is one of the more popular stops for kids along the park's length. It's one of several playgrounds spaced out along the four miles — enough that if you're staying nearby with kids, you're rarely more than a few blocks from one.
Riverside Clay Tennis Courts
At 96th Street, right at the river's edge, the Riverside Clay Tennis Courts are the only public outdoor red clay courts in New York City. They run seasonally, roughly April through November, with permits or single-play passes required, and they're reached from the park side via pedestrian tunnels that duck under the Westside Highway at 91st and 101st Streets.
Community gardens and Cherry Walk
Between 90th and 91st Streets, on the park's Promenade level, volunteers with a group called the Garden People maintain a community garden that's been going since 1977 — one of several small, locally tended plots scattered through the park, blooming from spring through late autumn. Further north, Cherry Walk runs from 100th to 125th Street along around 700 cherry trees planted back in 1909, and it's one of the better, less-crowded cherry blossom spots in the city come mid-April — quieter than the Reservoir gatehouse in Central Park and easier to actually get close to the trees.
Where Riverside Park connects
South of 72nd Street, Riverside Park South picks up and carries the waterfront greenway down to 59th Street, where it runs straight into Hudson River Park and continues, largely uninterrupted, all the way down to Battery Park. If you've got a bike, that means you can start at 158th Street and ride the whole western edge of Manhattan without leaving the greenway.
Getting to Riverside Park
The 1, 2 and 3 trains run up Broadway a block or two east of the park for its entire length, with stops at 72nd, 79th, 96th, 103rd, 116th, 125th and 137th Streets putting you within a short walk of most of what's covered here. There's no need to drive — street parking on the Upper West Side is tight, and the park itself has no dedicated visitor lots.
Frequently asked questions about Riverside Park
How long is Riverside Park?
Four miles, running along the Hudson from 72nd Street up to 158th Street. It's narrow the whole way — barely an eighth of a mile wide in most places — which is why it reads more like a ribbon than a rectangle on a map.
Who designed Riverside Park?
Frederick Law Olmsted, who also did Central Park and Prospect Park, took over the design in 1873 and had to work around the site's rocky, uneven terrain instead of flattening it. Calvert Vaux and Samuel Parsons Jr. expanded on his plan between 1875 and 1910.
Is the 79th Street Boat Basin open?
The marina — the actual boat slips — is closed for a multi-year reconstruction, expected back around 2028. The rotunda, the waterfront path and the surrounding esplanade are still open and worth the walk regardless.
Where is Grant's Tomb?
At 122nd Street, in the median of Riverside Drive, right at the park's edge. It's officially the General Grant National Memorial, run by the National Park Service, free to visit, and it's the largest mausoleum in North America.
What subway stops are near Riverside Park?
The 1, 2, 3 trains run along Broadway a block or two east of the park for its entire length — 72nd, 79th, 96th, 103rd, 116th, 125th and 137th Streets all put you within a short walk.
Can you play tennis in Riverside Park?
Yes, at the Riverside Clay Tennis Courts at 96th Street and the river — the only public outdoor red clay courts in New York City. They're seasonal, open roughly April through November, and you'll need a permit or a single-play pass.
Does Riverside Park connect to Hudson River Park?
Yes. South of 72nd Street, Riverside Park South continues the waterfront greenway down to 59th Street, where it meets Hudson River Park and runs, uninterrupted, all the way to Battery Park.