New York City’s scenic parks can help make life a picnic

New York may not satisfy any longing for pastoral landscapes, but the city’s parks can be a temporary haven to enjoy a pleasant outdoor meal.

Of Manhattan’s green spaces, Central Park contains the highest number of picnic spots by far. The Sheep Meadow and the oval-shaped Great Lawn are big enough for flocks of tourists and local families to stretch out and soak up the sun. Those in quest of a more rugged landscape, however, might prefer one of the benches in the Ramble, a series of paths that twist their way through a hilly stretch of woods in the center of the park near the lake.

For a shorter trip, Great Hill, on the western edge of the park at 105th Street, offers picnic tables, several grassy expanses, and a more peaceful atmosphere than the busiest areas in the south of the park.

In Hudson River Park, sandwiched between the river and the West Side Highway, picnickers can relax in an open space without leaving the hustle and bustle of the city behind. These open spaces, including Clinton Cove at 55th Street and Pier 45 at Christopher Street, protrude like limbs from the western edge of Manhattan and combine the tranquility of the outdoors with a background of urban noise and activity.

Fort Tryon Park—also on the bank of the Hudson but much farther north—presents a picturesque setting for those willing to make the trek uptown. Its lawns, terraces, and beds of heather and daffodils are struck directly by the sun in the afternoon, and the tower of the Cloisters rises nearby. The park—with an entrance only a few yards from the 190th Street stop on the A train—forms the southernmost boundary of the Inwood neighborhood.

But before setting off to a chosen picnic spot, the picnic itself must be prepared. Sandwiches being the perfect picnic food, a deli may be in order. While Ham Del might be a Columbia staple, there are plenty of delicious delis all over the island.

One convenient choice is Lenny’s, a sandwich shop with several locations within a short distance of Central Park. The assistant manager of the 84th Street branch recommends a cold sandwich like ham and cheese to suit picnickers’ needs. “If you’re taking it out and have to stay out for a while, it should stay well,” she said.

Those who prefer homemade fare can get creative by visiting any of the city’s grocery stores and farmer’s markets. Jake Lasser, CC ’12, suggests turkey, apple, and Brie on a multi-grain baguette or ciabatta loaf, spread with a mixture of mayonnaise, salt, pepper, and hot chili oil. “One thing that I would say to avoid is a really, really sour apple like Granny Smith because that’s going to taste a little bit strange with the creaminess of the Brie,” he said. Instead, he recommended using “big, dry apples” like Red Delicious.

For many students, the arrival of this year’s picnic season evokes fond memories of picnics gone by. Jo Jordan, SEAS ’12, remembers a picnic last summer with her friends in the Beaujolais wine region of France. “We had wine, cheese, bread, salami, and butter, and we just hiked up this hill, which was called ‘The Top of the World,’ and there was a really pretty view,” she said.

The picnic that stands out in the memory of Kristina Gsell, SEAS ’12, was the result of a shorter trip: it took place in Sea Cliff, a town near her own on the north shore of Long Island. “We went to this park called Headless Park, and we spread out this big blanket,” she said. “That was probably the most legit picnic I’ve ever had.”