My Top 10 Massive U.S. City Parks
Parks are the lifeblood of cities. Here are some of my favorite ones in the U.S.:
I’ve long desired a big expanse of space, snuggled with numerous copses of trees and calm lakes, in the heart of Orlando. But while we don’t have that massive, thousand-acre park in The City Beautiful, I’ve had to settle for visiting other parks recently. It’s been a bit of a binge, really. So, judge away if you need to.
The criteria is as follows:
–I have to have personally spent time in the park.
–It has to be larger than 100 acres.
–It cannot be a national park or monument.
Piedmont Park (Atlanta, Georgia)
This green haven is a whooping 189 acres in the midst of downtown Atlanta and boasts myriad options for connecting with others and with nature. There are fields and trails, sports happening everywhere, venues for concerts, lakes to take strolls around, a community garden, various dog parks, and contains Atlanta Botanical Gardens, amongst much else. Once, I had a layover in Atlanta and made my way to the park for some pickup soccer, ultimate frisbee, and a long hike before it was time for me to depart.
Belle Isle Park (Detroit, Michigan)
If you think Detroit sucks, you are sadly mistaken. And besides the massive revitalization project, this park is one of the biggest reasons why. The park is a massive 982 acres, and is housed solely on an island in the Detroit River, with the Michigan coast to the west and the Windsor, Ontario coast to the east. On the island, you’ll find an aquarium, massive expanses of green, forest, 800 meters of swimmable beach (with the Detroit skyline beautifully in the distance), and so much more. It is a delight.
Central Park (New York, New York)
This was one of the first parks I got lost in. I remember, on a trip to New York, I entered the park on the south side and planned on walking north until I got to the northern boundary of the park. I was naïve. I walked and explored for what seemed like ages. I kept going, though I was tiring. Finally, I saw a little castle and told myself that when I got to that castle, I’d certainly be able to see the end of the park. The truth is, when I got there, I saw only more park. Later, I learned that I’d only been a third of the across the incredible park. Over 150 years ago, New Yorkers were smart enough to set aside 778 acres in the middle of what would become one of the biggest, busiest cities in the world. It is undoubtedly the lifeblood for many in the metropolis area.
Golden Gate Park (San Francisco, California)
3 miles long and encompassing more than 1,000 acres, Golden Gate Park is the grand-daddy of massive city parks in the U.S. Want to get lost in a gardens that has plants from all over the world? They’ve got that. A science center that acts as a mini-Smithsonian? That, too. Looking for an American bison or two? You guessed it. Golden Gate has just about everything and it is the lynchpin that connects downtown San Francisco to Ocean Beach. Not to mention, it’s hella close to the “painted ladies” that 90’s sitcom Full House was modeled after; ultimate bonus points for that.
Volunteer Park (Seattle, Washington)
Although the park is just a hair over 43 acres, it gets the nod because—besides the conservatory and green space to enjoy—within the park is a water tower that houses the history of Seattle parks, which talks about how the prudence of a few men helped changed the face of Seattle forever. Now, they have delicious parks scattered throughout the city—more as features than afterthoughts. Included in them are Washington Park Arboretum, which is hundreds of acres of beauty, and Green Lake Park, a 259-acre Pacific Northwest version of Lake Eola Park (in Orlando), only bigger and with much more to do.
Balboa Park (San Diego, California)
One of the oldest city parks in America has just about anything you’d want in your local park—fields, trails, restaurants, a zoo, theatres, museums, beautiful Spanish architecture, even a hospital close by if you get injured. Sitting in this park at dusk, I could have closed and opened my eyes to find myself in a modern Mediterranean paradise, such is the feel of this park. Oh, and it’s a whopping 1,200 acres.
Forest Park (Portland, Oregon)
Most parks that are a few hundred acres are called large. Any park around 1–2 thousand acres must be considered gargantuan. That said, Forest Park is in a category of its own. Cutting eight miles through the city is this 5,000+ acre park that holds enough trails for even the most avid hiking enthusiast. There’s not much to say about this park other than that it’s like a national park within city limits. Portland officials have helped create 10,000 acres of park space in the city. Kudos to them; and Forest Park is the crown jewel.
Eastwood MetroPark (Dayton, Ohio)
You don’t plan to go to Ohio, you’re either born there or you have to drive through it and for some reason you end up staying. Or so I was taught, growing up in Michigan. The fact is, parts of Ohio are pretty beautiful. And Dayton is no exception. They have a number of brilliant parks scattered throughout the city, but Eastwood MetroPark (437 acres) is my favorite. It’s the perfect place in the city to get away from busyness—with a tree canopy that makes sure you’ve always got shade, a river and streams that segment the patches of deep-green grass, and the lake that abuts the property.
Grant Park (Chicago, Illinois)
This 319-acre park has heaps of lawns, gardens, and some beautiful fountains. Music-lovers annually find solace (and dancing) at Lollapalooza Music and Grant Park Music Festivals. The Art Institute of Chicago, Shedd Aquarium, and the Field Museum also adorn this magnificent park—for anyone interested in continued learning. To boot, there’s little better to me than a park that sits on the side of Lake Michigan—a lake so large it is essentially a freshwater ocean. No salt. No sharks. Mellow waves (unless there’s a storm). The park is nourishment to the soul.
City Park & Beach/McEuan Park/Tubbs Hill (Coeur d’Alene, Idaho)
These three gems are adjacent to one another in downtown Coeur d’Alene, set majestically on the lake that bears the same name. Together, they are 150 acres of beautiful lakeside respite for the sleepy city of 45,000 people. The parks act as a pressure outlet for the city 7 days a week, as if it were large enough to need it. There is a sand beach, a dock with a fleet of boats, and a hill full of forests, rock outcroppings, and amazing views once you get to the top.
What about you? Where do you go to be in touch with nature in your city? If you haven’t ventured out too much yet, I’d challenge you to. Happy exploring, or resting, or whatever it is you need to do when you get there.
