Central Park is one of the most famous parks is not only in New York City but in the whole world. It’s been featured in movies from Home Alone 2 to Vanilla Sky and was a major feature in the iconic TV show Friends. When tourists come to New York City, one of the first things that they want to do is take a stroll (or bike ride or carriage ride) through the famous Central Park. While Central Park is quite incredible, it tends to overshadow some of the other beautiful parks in the big apple. In fact, the majority of New York City tourists don’t even realize that there are other parks to visit! However, Central Park is far from the only park that serves as a delightful green hideaway in the concrete jungle. While arguably lesser-known than Central Park, Battery Park is just as beautiful and offers picturesque views of the city on one side and the ocean on the other. Visitors to New York City would be doing themselves a disservice if they passed up a visit to Battery Park.

The Battery: 1800-1900

The Battery Park area has a very rich history. As far back as the 17th century, Manhattan’s southern shoreline, where Battery Park is located, has been known as “The Battery.” This was due to the artillery battery along the shoreline designed to protect those on Manhattan from any seaside attacks. Years later in 1855, the artillery battery was replaced with a sandstone fort called the Castle Clinton, also known as Castle Gardens. This fort became the very first immigration station in America and saw 8 million people enter into the country from 1855-1890. While many think that Ellis Island was the first immigration station, this is not true. The immigration station at Clinton Gardens was run by New York State and it wasn’t until the U.S. government took over immigration processing that the main immigration station was moved to Ellis Island, in 1892. In the late 19th century, Castle Gardens was renovated and turned into an aquarium.

The Battery: 1900-1990

It wasn’t until the mid-20th century that Castle Gardens, and subsequently The Battery, began to serve as a cultural hub for New Yorkers. Before the mid-20th century, The Battery was only accessible via Manhattan. However, a decision was then made to build an underground tunnel to connect The Battery to Brooklyn. With increased access, the area became more popular. In 1966, Castle Gardens has declared a National Monument and was registered in the National Register of Historic Places. The National Park Service took control of Castle Gardens and in 1975 launched a $750,000 renovation project, which resulted in the area being reopened to the public. It was in the late 20th century that the ferry was opened to take visitors to the newly restored Statue of Liberty. The dock for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island tours is located right next to The Battery, which meant that thousands of tourists began walking through The Battery every year.

The Battery: 1990-Today

Unfortunately, over the years, Battery Park became rundown and dilapidated. The once-historic area became more of an eyesore to tourists than an attractive destination. For this reason, The Battery Conservancy (TBC) was formed in 1994 to renovate the area and restore it to its former glory. Part of that renovation included the construction of The Battery Promenade and a $6 million donation by Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan to turn Castle Clinton into a modern-day performance venue. While these renovations were complete, more continued over the next few decades. In 2005, a beautiful bosque was opened in The Battery, complete with a perennial garden and enchanting fountain. Then in 2016, The Battery Oval, a 90,000 square foot lawn, was created in The Battery. Just last year, The Battery Bikeway opened, which connects the Hudson River Park and the East River Esplanade.

The Battery, while it has a rich history, is constantly renovating and expanding. It has had several important roles over the years and now exists solely as a place of entertainment. Whether you’d like to lay on the grass, see a performance at Castle Clinton or even take a historical tour of the preserved area of Castle Clinton, there is something for everyone at Battery Park. Battery Park is truly one of the most interesting and picturesque parks in the city. The next time you visit Manhattan, be sure to add a stop to Battery Park to your to-do list.