Awesome park in the heart of Harlem. Always lively with something for everyone. Tons of seating and decent lawns for laying out a blanket. Folks tend to play loud music here, so it can be hard to find a quiet nook, but it's not too bad. The amphitheater is huge and a great place to catch a show in the open air in the summer. read more

Marcus Garvey Park is a great community resource in the neighborhood. They offer many free activities and a nice green space for the neighborhood. This summer, they had the Charlie Parker jazz festival at the amphitheater. This was a great free event for everyone to enjoy. They have various performances throughout the year at the amphitheater, and the best part is that most are free events for the community to enjoy. In addition to the free events, this is a great park for families to enjoy. There are playgrounds for the kids, picnic areas with barbecue grills. They have a free outdoor gym where mostly men lift weights and exercise. You can also take exercise classes in the recreation center and swim in the outdoor pool in the summer. I completely recommend coming here to visit during the day while the sun is still out. However, this place gets very sketchy once it's dark, with people coming to use drugs or take part in x rated activities. Just use common sense and come here during the day. read more

Marcus Garvey Park - Watch tower - Parks Near Me - New York, New York

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Brother, brother......this park has a lot going for it in regards to prime time real estate and more so. Named after Marcus Garvey and in one of the increasingly affluent parts of Harlem, this park has a lot to offer. Marcus Garvey Park offers an intermediate sized swimming pool, an often used amphitheater, barbecue pit area, picnic area, a meeting center (which often offers CPR classes), playgrounds, baseball field with dugouts, book boxes, sprinklers, a dog run, and also free Wi-Fi access in case you tire of staying put and want to move elsewhere. This park is very well maintained and patrolled. MGP is easily one of the best parks in Harlem. During the Summer, one can often find artwork installations and artists throughout the park, concerts and a variety of community events ranging from swing dance to spoken word which is always an interesting pleasure. Flowers are always in bloom, so much so that the Marcus Garvey Park gardens have won awards within the City. Definitely a great stop to check out in Harlem. read more

Marcus Garvey is a beeyutiful park located in Harlem. It consist of a lot of space and it's perfect for getting your exercise on by walking up the multiple hills of steps. This park has a venue with a stage and is known for hosting numerous events and programs throughout the year. They also have a swimming pool, playground and a basketball court. I also think that it would be a creative place for a wedding as well just because it's so clean and spacious. Overall Marcus Garvey Park is one of the cleanist park I've seen thus far. It's family friendly and just a fun place to enjoy nature and the outdoors read more

Marcus Garvey Park - Parks Near Me - New York, New York

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This review is mainly for the outdoor pool that is located in Marcus Garvey Park. I signed up for the NYC Open Swim Program, which runs from 7 pm to 8:30ish pm on weeknights during the summer. Overall, I cannot complain too much about the pool and with the park's pool facilities. Although it's old, the locker room is fairly large and pretty clean. Since this is a city park, I was not expecting a brand new or super clean locker room, but I was not disgusted with the upkeep. One of the other swimmers warned me not to put my things in a locker on a top row. My only small complaint is that there should be a little more instruction regarding the swim direction. A couple of other swimmers pretty much told me that they just try not to hit each other while swimming. All in all, I a decent experience swimming laps in the pool and cannot wait to return again. read more

Marcus Garvey Park - A nice evening swim. Shh, but cell phones are not allowed on the deck. - Parks Near Me - New York, New York

I've always loved this community park whether they call it Marcus Garvey Park or Mount Morris Park, it has always served the community well. Connie Lee has done a magnificent job. I remember going there in the 1960s during the Black & People's revolution and seeing Gil Scott and The Last Poets there at the Amphitheater for the first time. He spoke to the people and a time when we were finding our voices. A wonderful Park. A park that nurtures its entire community, Marcus Garvey provides pastimes for children, teens, adults, and the elderly. The two playgrounds are built for all children, including those with disabilities, giving the neighborhood's youngest members hours of fun on the park's slides, fountains, and drawbridges. On summer days, families and friends swim and sun in its outdoor pool, and in the warm evenings, they gather to watch plays and concerts in the park's amphitheater. During the summer, instructors teach swimming novices to do the crawl and improve their strokes in its indoor pool, and throughout the year, classes as diverse as computer skills, kickboxing, yoga, and karate are offered to all who want them. A play area for dogs as well. Read less read more

Marcus Garvey Park - 120th street & Mount Morris Park West - Parks Near Me - New York, New York

When some people think of New York City, they imagine a concrete jungle with people rushing everywhere and not caring about the world around them. But stereotypes are not always true, and I love breaking them every chance I get. One of the ways in which that stereotype of NYC is broken is through it's many green spaces in Manhattan. And there are not just some random empty fields, but parks that offer a little bit of everything. Marcus Garvey Park, named after the famous spearhead of the Harlem Renaissance, is one such place. In this park, there is recreational centers for every age. If you like to swim, play basketball, attend live shows, or simply chat with fellow citizens, then this is a good option in Harlem. There are plenty of walking/jogging trails, and great features that I never saw back in LA (i.e. the rocky formations that make up small hills). This park is safe, and the people I encountered here were friendly. It was a nice walk on a weekday afternoon, and the tall trees that dot this park provided some nice shade. If you find yourself in the area, come check out this park. read more

Marcus Garvey Park - Parks Near Me - New York, New York

This is a really nice park in New York, located in Harlem. I was walking around with my friend through the city, and we came across it on our way to Harlem from East Village. They have a lot of open spaces and people playing sports. There is also a public pool. You can hike to the top of the hill that it is on and see the surrounding areas. There are also picnic tables for eating, and chess tables for playing. Overall, I'd recommend this park if you're in the area for a nice stroll. read more

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I really liked this place. I walked by this morning with a few friends, and thoroughly enjoyed this green space flanked by tall trees and clean green grounds. It's not big, but it displays huge elevated rocky boulders leading to a lookout. A 1/4 mile "trail" climbs to the top, from which there's a pleasant view of the surroundings... all the way to St. Martin's Episcopal Church and the Riverside Church and Tower. There's a swimming pool, an amphitheater, a recreation center, basketball courts, and more. The foliage today was beautiful. Recommended. read more

Marcus Garvey Park - Parks Near Me - New York, New York

Came for Shakespeare in the park for the 12th Night production. It was such an incredible experience! Afro-futuristic themes, great visuals and amazing cast. Came with my students and they really enjoyed it! Definitely come back for more summer night activities:) highly recommend stopping by!! read more

This park is awful. I was attempting to enjoy a spring day on the benches at 124th St. and there were crackheads who kept walking by and getting really close. Plus, there was a strong stench of weed. I went and found a nice isolated spot on the lawn, and when I stretched my arms out behind me, I found a crack pipe right by my hand. And a guy either under the influence or mentally ill started doing a dance nearby and waving his arms and shouting. So I got up and walked around and crossed paths with 3 separate individuals who appeared to be homeless and very angry. When my kid was dismissed from an extracurricular activity in another part of the park and we met up, she said that the activity kept getting interrupted by a man who was shouting expletives at the kids (all under the age of 12) and that the park rangers had to restrain him. Sad, scary, and unpleasant. read more

Marcus Garvey was a Jamaican-born leader of the Pan-Africanism movement who established the Universal Negro Improvement. Going to New York and seeing how important his name was to history for my ancestors. He's one of the main people who made sure early on that Black people got their proper respect. He also made sure that he did everything in his power to make sure people understood what Africa represents for it's people. This is only a yelp review yes. Not history class. However the only reason i came here is to pay respect. Marcus Garvey was a voice for people who look like me. In a place that they still barely listen to us. Meaning black people. Only time this country feels safe is when they are in complete and total control. This country has a lot of unwanted blood on it's soil. It's time to wake up! Thanks again for your sacrifices Mr. Marcus Garvey. read more

Marcus Garvey Park - Parks Near Me - New York, New York

After my daughter was born 3 years ago my mom used to take her here daily. Yes you may find some sketchy characters but within the park you will find history and a community that's deeply rooted to Harlem. No, it's not one of the best kept or maintained ... the playgrounds do have swings, slides and water park but are a bit busted up but it's authentic and it's New York, what else do you want? It's a part of the city and it has history so bring a blanket and sit and watch while musicians perform, weirdos walk by, people doing yoga kids playing or you see the locals hanging around the park sitting smoking weed and listening to music. It's authentic and it's real New York. We still go here and there with our daughter and enjoy the park. read more

I visited this park while waiting for my training to start in the area. I was there around 8:30 ish in the morning and it was so serene and clean. I sat by the little water sprouts and could definitely see myself walking through them to cool off on a hot humid day. It wasn't crowded but I did see a few people playing basketball and exercising. They have some beautiful rocks and trees that give the park a beautiful landscaping view. I walked up the stairs and saw the amazing views and the large pool. This would be a park I would frequent again when I'm in the area. read more

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Such potential here given the location. It's high up so there are actually great panoramic views with some obstruction from trees. You take sets of stairs to get to the top, where there's plenty of space and a defunct art installation that whines with the wind. There's also background radio noise because there's an embedded broadcast as part of the art. We actually came to see the oldest metal fire tower in New York, but it was removed, leaving in its place stone rubbles where the tower's base had previously been. The area is nice for solitude but there's a lot of trash. The lower area includes a small playground and an Olympic sized pool that did not look maintained. read more

4.5 stars This is my favorite park in all of Manhattan. I consider myself an urban park aficionado (former suburbanite who grew up with a forest a block away from her house - I need nature close by!), and Marcus Garvey Park is the most beautiful I have seen in all of the city. Formely known as Mount Morris Park, this twenty-acre expanse starts south between Fifth Ave and Madison at 120th street and stretches up to 124th street. There are three large playgrounds, a dog run, basketball courts, a baseball field, public pool and not to mention a variety of wildflowers and trees. I love the fact that, unlike most New York City parks, the vegetation and elevation are completely organic. My two favorite places within the park are the watchtower and amphitheater. Follow the broad steps up and around the center of the park, and you'll find the watchtower seated upon "the Acropolis" where you'll find breathtaking views of the park from all sides. On early summer mornings, I'd take my dog for a quick run to the top of the stairs where we'd find ourselves panting, but in awe - are we really in East Harlem? The amphitheater is located closer to the west side of the park. It hosts a number of events, usually during the summer, including notable music acts and community theater groups. Last summer, I took my mother to the amphitheater to watch a hiphop version of Romeo & Juliet. Accompanied by a bottle of wine and sandwiches, we had a beautiful evening of mother-daughter bonding. I am so happy to live close to such a beautiful park, however, I have to take half a star off because it is, unfortunately, still a little seedy. I wouldn't visit at night (well, it is New York, so duh), and the park was in the news this past summer for a couple of fatal shootings. Once, when running up the stairs towards the Acropolis with my dog, I saw two used condoms which was not cool, for me or my dog. However, with gentrification (for better or worse) will come a wave of renovation - I think there are plans to revamp the amphitheater. read more

If you part of the Ochlocratic Plutocracy -- and, whether you know it or not, if you are part of the inherently nihilistic Bourgeoisie you are part the Ochlocratic Plutocracy -- please, take your always toxic Heterosexual Supremacy and violently psychopathic Homophobia elsewhere! (I would be privileged to see a boy being gangbanged at 5PM, not complain about it; especially since this kind of cool adult stuff purposely only happens away from the genteel areas and clueless eyes of children in the park.) If you are looking for a "lilly-white" experience, please go to Central Park and leave Marcus Garvey for the chic savages, thank you very much! read more

1st time for the Rakim concert so it was cool...and all parks are the same in my book...lols tree and trees and some arts and more trees;) read more

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This has been my neighborhood park for over a decade. I come here just to chill and relax. I can remember when the park was a no no and there was a womens prison on Mt. Morris between 120 & 121 street. Now we have: Three new play grounds A dog run New sidewalks A new baseball field A garden club A home for hundreds of community events. A pool and beach volley ball court There is a community center and an amphitheater. The In summer the African drummers draw hundreds to their performance throughout the day. The park is really warm and inviting at all times of the year. Marcus Garvey park is a place where residents can enjoy a park which is largely undisturbed. Where kids can play without the "overwhelming" or "corporate sponsorship" feel of sister park, central park. On a clear day, from the top of the acropolis, you can see the majority of the city. Its extra beautiful in fall when the trees are changing color. I have about 100 pictures of the park, but couldn't post them all so visit my blog for more info. read more

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I live a block away so I frequent this park quite often. I have a beagle and he loves the dog run. There's actually two dog runs separated by a fence so you're not forced to have your dog play with dogs who don't get along well with others. The amphitheater is lovely, although it's not used as often as it should be. There's an upper level, which is fantastic- highly recommended. There's a drummer's circle that usually has some form of live music going on, which adds a little charisma and spice to the environment. I'm not sure which decade Green W. went to Marcus Garvey park, but I don't agree with most of what he said. After strolling through this park over 50 times, I have never seen anyone openly smoking crack. Nor have I ever seen public sex in the upper level. Sure, there's some pot smoking going on, but big deal. People smoke pot in every park in the city, so there's no real shocker there. " . . . A popular spot for cheap dirty prostitutes," is laughable. Also laughable and baffling is his displeasure for people barbecuing in a park. You can't pick and choose which people go to a park and which activities they do while there. I moved from East Harlem a year and a half ago and compared to that dump Thomas Jefferson Park, this park is nirvana. read more

On summer days, the pool is always full and loud, but lovely. Locker rooms are everything you need, though the showers can be wickedly cold! We talked to the super friendly staff about adult swim, and when we came back for the evening swim we immediately fell so deeply in love with this place. They keep track of your laps for you and if you swim 25 miles in the season you get a t-shirt. The whole thing was so friendly and quiet and great! You get to know the people who go and root or each other. I am so excited for it to open this summer. read more

Came here for the first time last week for a free concert. The concert was packed to capacity but it was well organized. Since the security consisted of only parks and recreation staff, it seemed as if the crowd would get out of hand but that was not the case. The ambiance was so chill...I felt like I was at a hiphop block party from the early 90's. Everyone dancing and signing and having a great time. read more

I've been going to this pool for 3 years and I never had an issue until today. The staff is nice and sweet and very helpful. The showers and bathroom are ok, let's just say I won't ever go in barefoot. The issue was they were two older individuals inappropriate touching and having intercourse in the pool. They were other swimmers witnessing what was going on and discussing it in the locker room. I went to speak to the supervisor about it, what a waste of time. He was talking in circles, not making any sense. My daughter witness it happening and he said she couldn't say anything about it because she is a minor. So basically if you see this going on just look the other way. He said if I wanted to file a complaint I have to call 311. So I did, the operator said he can't file a complaint on that matter but he can file a complaint on the staff that did nothing. Oh I forgot to mention, there was a blonde hair lifeguard that kept blowing her whistle to get them to stop doing what they were doing. If you have to get their attention more than twice, kick them out!! If they catch you with your phone on the bleachers, you're ban for the rest of the day. The situation wasn't handled appropriately, they need to get rid of Erick the supervisor. I really liked this pool but the community is really taking this place for granted. And for the perverts having intercourse if front of children. SHAME ON YOU!!!! ya are to old and to grown to be behaving this way, acting like horny teenagers. They were both at least in their late 50's early 60's. And on top of that, they were with their grandchildren. Obviously I will not be going to this pool and more. Do your job Erick read more

A nice park to roam around and get a nice view of the city. Climb to the top and midtown can be seen quite nicely! Watch out for the camera that yells at you for being up on the top... Is it illegal? read more

Every August these big ass flowers grow in Mt. Morris Park & every August I say OMG look at these big pretty ass flowers growing in Mt. Morris Park! And every August I take a picture. It never gets old to me read more

Marcus Garvey Park - Big pretty ass flowers! - Parks Near Me - New York, New York

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This is a lovely park. Not quite as clean/upkept as Central Park but I have no doubt that parks that are not Central Park have much smaller maintenance budgets. Anywho, has several small playgrounds and a small dog park. There are also a few water features that the kiddos can play in. Took the girls once to play while I hooped in the grassy area, only wish I had more hoops as several other kids came over to try it out. I saw no crack smoking, or hooking. Though there are definitely people who sleep there and there is some trash around, but c'mon, it's new york, there is trash everywhere, just sayin. Also has a very large outdoor pool. One problem w/the pool/rec center is that you have to buy a year membership to use them. What?!?!?! you say....yeah, me too. I was there for three weeks and specifically inquired in the rec center and checked online about short term/daily fees. Nope, nada, nosir! You pay the $150 membership or you don't swim. While $150 is a very reasonable yearly fee, it is a bit outrageous for my shorter time frame. Bottom line, we quite enjoyed this park as we are not especially city folk and it was nice to get some green time. read more

Kind of in disrepair, I hear it's still a huge improvement. Sit atop the whole place (& Harlem) amidst fragmented stones and a hodgepodge of the surrounding area eating lunch. I came mid-day on a Friday and not many people were around, so I guess it's a different scene at other times. Regardless of when you go, people will walk around whispering on their cell phones -- pay them no mind; enjoy your time there and keep to yourself. I'll stay out of the e-battle going down between reviewers on this listing. read more

This was my first ever visit to the park. I was part of a volunteer crew of 15 who raked and bags leaves on a Thursday morning in association with the running organization, NYRR. It's an easy to park to find if you go in the right direction out of the subway station which I did not. It's not flattest of terrain but it's walkable. As mentioned by yelpers, the grassy area is littered with condoms and broken glass. read more

I am giving this dog run 4 stars because of how the community takes care of the park. Everyone who goes there is friendly and each month they have a "Bark In The Park" where everyone is welcomed to help clean up the dog run. Breakfast is usually provided. They even have a dog run for small dogs at the park. This is one of the best parks that I've been to based on the people who go there and the altruistic behavior of the dog owners in taking care of the park to better the neighborhood. read more

I live on 120th and 5th and basically go to this park every day with 3 kids as it's right across the street and the kids love the playgrounds the park offers. you will see people doing everything in this park, and when i write everything, i mean it. from our apartment which is facing the park, you can even see people having sex on the top levels (and inbetween trees etc), and that at all times of the day. see drug dealers, and people getting arrested, homeless sleeping somewhere you wouldn't expect, and just some crazy things going on. and when you go on top of it, there are times you will see condoms laying around everywhere - as well as drug stuff. i got offered drugs many times. there are usually a lot of people, so during the day i'm not worried with the kids, but wouldn't go close to it at night, especially not by myself since i'm a young woman. the upper level of the park closes at dusk and has, as one of my neighbors found out an alarm on top if you still go up there after a certain time. other than this, the park is really nice, and on the main level pretty clean compared to other nyc parks. has great playgrounds, a dog run, swimming pool, jazz, soul, hip hop concerts in the summer etc and can be a wonderful place to hang out with friends.... read more

Summer time is the best time because of the free concerts. The stage and stadium seating are nicer than any others in parks in NYC. They usually have pretty good shows of all kinds. If you live in upper Manhattan it's worth it to check out. read more

Good dog park but even though they have 2 areas. I feel like the big dogs mix with the little dogs. Sometimes the little dogs are intimidated by them. I wish it was a little more separate. The park area is lined with mulch which is better than dirt, doesn't stick to my dog. There is no water fountain for dogs....so byow. Poop bags are provided. Things are jumping around the 6p mark as owners are coming home from work. read more

we came here for the Macbeth dress rehearsal showing a few Fridays ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. we were up close and personal on the second row, munching on our cheddar popcorn and turkey and cheese sandwich pilfered from a nearby deli... just kidding. the outdoor arena area is cool - i wouldn't change it (except, maybe consider having some vendors for food during performances?? i get hungry...). the park itself has so much potential for greatness, but unfortunately, it falls short perhaps due to the company it attracts. some areas are trashy and some are nice. i wish all parks in NYC areas were equally maintained. it's a shame, really. read more

It is a nice park. However, the park is dirty with garbage littered everywhere. However, I like the Marcus Garvey Theater - Summerstage which holds events like the Harlem Art Festival. If you are in Harlem, it is a worthy visit. read more

Overall nice park, I've had a couple scary incidences with my dog in the dog park. People need to have better control of their dogs and pay attention when they act violent. Otherwise it's nice to walk around on a nice day and easy access from both the east and west sides of Harlem. read more

Overall, it's a nice neighborhood park with 2 dog run, bench tables to BBQ, baseball field, and a small greenmarket available on the weekends. It has an amazing view of manhattan when you reach the top of the stairs of the park. Not quite as romantic as Central Park but the most accessible to me when I want to enjoy a bit of what mother nature has to offer. read more

One of my every best places in the world it has given me a bunch of amazing childhood memories. I go up to the mountains sometimes they read books when the weather is great. read more

This is a very nice green, fresh air oasis just one block south of the hustle and bustle of 125th street. It has a ton of open grass space for you to come and relax or even bring a group of kids to play when you undoubtedly get tired of the concrete playgrounds. A lot of Harlem themed events host activities here including Harlem Week, Harlem Arts Festival and many more. They have a nice sized open stage with stadium style seats for dance, theater, and musical performances that sometimes show up here. You will also find a large outdoor pool that is open during the warmer months. I just wish they had more bench seating available for you to relax and get some air. read more

Terrific park with an awesome mix of foliage, rocks, an acropolis, dog-run and an amphitheater next door.

I have lived within a block of Marcus Garvey park since 2006, first on the north side in an apratment overlooking the park and then one block south of the park. The park is a great gem with a newly remodeled concert bandshell, a pool, basketball courts, water fountain for the kids and lots of grassy space. The trees make for a wonderul mostly shaded area for walks and bench sitting. There is a large dog and small dog run area that recently had new fencing and gates installed and there has even been signifcant imrpovements to the surrounding sidewalks and flower gardens. All in all this is a wonderful park! I will admit to seeing evidence of drug dealing, prostitution and sex out in the open on the acropolis and in the immediate area around it so it can easily be avoided by remaining on the lower levels if that makes you too nervous. My suggesttion is to not let it keep you from exploring the upper area as the more people that use the acropolis area the less comfortable it will be for the seedy people to do their dirty business there. Plus in most cases those types are not loooking to draw attention to themselves and will not bother you if you don't bother them. Again, the more people that walk and enjoy the acropolois, the more chance there will be of pushing the seedy element out. It will take an organized effort to fully recalim that part of the park but I think it is well worth it. I just saw two people being hauled down from there yesterday by the police. The jerks that have claimed the area for their dealing of crack, heroin and the sex trade have destroyed parts of the walls, steps and lighting but it can all be restored if WE take it back and make it comfortable and safe for ALL. read more