This is one of my all-time favorite parks, and I feel lucky to live close by. I even had the pleasure of watching it being built, which makes it feel that much more special to me. Teardrop Park is a 1.8-acre urban oasis tucked into Battery Park City, designed to evoke the rugged beauty of the Catskills. Somehow, despite being surrounded by residential buildings, it feels like a tiny mountain landscape hidden in the city. The dramatic 27-foot bluestone wall, jagged rock formations, and naturalistic spaces like "The Marsh" make it feel worlds away from Manhattan. There's something here for everyone: * The Giant Slide - A 33-foot-long silver slide built right into a rocky hill that lands in a giant sandbox. * Water Play Area - A "water grotto" with jets and bubbling springs that comes alive in warmer months. * Bluestone Wall - It's epic. In spring and summer, it "weeps" water, and in winter it forms natural ice sculptures. * The North Lawn - A quieter escape with a sloping oval lawn and a peaceful Hilltop Reading Circle. Great for sled riding after snowfall. * Sustainability - The park is maintained organically (no toxic pesticides). * It was designed by Michael Van Valkenburgh and was ahead of its time in green urban design. The park uses 100% organic soils and an advanced irrigation system that recycles graywater from the nearby Solaire building. Artists Ann Hamilton and Michael Mercil also collaborated on embedded geologic artwork, adding subtle layers of meaning to the landscape itself. One caveat: it was originally a dog-free park, which made sense given the sand areas, child population and natural features. That rule changed a few years ago, and I've seen dogs frolicking in the sand pits (raising hygiene concerns)--so if you visit, just be mindful of where you step. All in all, Teardrop Park is a thoughtful, beautifully designed, and surprisingly wild-feeling space in the middle of the city. A true neighborhood gem. read more

Teardrop Park - Blizzard of 2026 - Parks Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Amazing park. 1) The view of the building near the park is beyond beautiful & amazing. It is hard to describe, but a must visit park. 2) The park is small, but have so much to offer. 3) I very much enjoyed coming to this park to relax. read more

Not a park that's a must see for tourists on a limited schedule, but anyone who lives in NYC doesn't have much of an excuse. It's situated perfectly to be serenely quiet and is easily accessible as well. read more

See all

Please watch my latest video for my YouTube channel Play NYCe which is devoted to the many parks and playgrounds in NYC. Teardrop Park is a unique and special place located in Battery Park City and designed by MICHAEL VAN VALKENBURGH ASSOCIATES, INC. Please like the video on YouTube and subscribe to my channel #playnyce https://youtu.be/YsMbSMPLdII read more

Teardrop Park - https://youtu.be/YsMbSMPLdII - Parks Near Me - New York, New York

Teardrop Park is party of Battery Park City's parks. A local jewel! It contains the most shrubberies, trees of a hidden oasis with a man made wall as a partition of the two paths. It is not a well known park, but provides temporary relief from the purgatory blazing heat and sun for shade during my brief visit. A natural setting of an outdoor garden of Teardrop Park and a ravine without running water. Seating areas are ample. This park is very quiet since it is hidden or at least not widely known even by native New Yorkers. The wall granite structure appears very natural to have inhabit many years of existence. The rock formation is simple and clean design. Surely no Frederick Law Olmsted landscape design, but close in the ravine setting. Yes, there are yuppie high-rise apartment complexes that surrounds Teardrop Park for it main inhabitants, but is open to be enjoyed by all. read more

See all

Amazing little park. An absolute must if you have kids 5+. There is a huge metal slide and a small water area. Just be prepared for the kids to get messy. The slide dumps them into a large sand area. There is a restroom if you walk towards the water (river, not the play area). This park is not dog friendly! read more

I came across Teardrop Park a couple weeks ago while chasing a photograph. I looked around, no one seemed to be telling me "you can't go in there" so I kept on walking and discovered the most darling hill with rock formations. The park is hidden by some trees, surrounded by residential buildings and located away from the water which means there are far less people taking up grassy space. It's a nice, slight, change of pace from it's neighboring Rockefeller Park. Would I spend another lunch hour or afternoon lounging in the sunshine at Teardrop Park. Absolutely. read more

Great hidden gem in Battery Park City. There is a long slide for the kids that leads to a sand pit. Plenty of rocks for climbing and a set of stairs that leads to a shaded platform with additional seating. Plenty of greenery and shade provided from surrounding buildings and restrooms available as well.. read more

Teardrop Park - Long slide that leads to sand pit - Parks Near Me - New York, New York

It was a nice hidden location in New York. Not crowded at all, completely shaded by trees. Very close to the pier

One gorgeous, Sunday afternoon the boo and I decided to take an adventure to Teardrop Park, which a friend had reported as being "very cool". The recommendation was coming from an urban forester, so we took it seriously. After getting a little lost, we finally found our way...and man. It was nothing like what I expected. Teardrop Park is filled with shady walkways that feature tree top arch ways, gorgeous stone, and plenty of places for your children to get injured. It's so utterly tranquil...I had no idea there were any little parks like this in New York City. I was shocked by the wonderful usage of space. It seems like they haven't completed work on the park, but despite that there are still plenty of places to plant your bum and enjoy a little oasis in the city. The foliage is lush and green, with the exception of several berry covered bushes, which apparently boast gorgeous white flowers in the spring. For the kids, the park does promise more than injuries. There is a gigantic metal slide that really forced me to resist pushing kids out of the way to get my joy ride. There are several sand pits, and since we are in seemingly sterile TriBeCa, I don't think that stepping on a used syringe is something you have to worry about. I can't say enough good about this place, and it's early in the morning. Just go. You won't be disappointed. http://www.batteryparkcity.org/page/popup/teardrop.html read more

See all

The most perfectly kept secret from tourists. Love that it's just us nyc families walking around exploring this little oasis in between the residential buildings. Love the sandpit but watch out for the garden mice - they might crawl into your stroller bag read more

In my opinion, this is easily the best park in New York City. It's secluded, spacious, and hidden from the tourists somehow. At first glance, you might consider the space unimpressive, but that's great, because it keeps people from coming here. When all you need is some well-kept grass to sit on while reading a book or getting some sun, Teardrop Park is the way to go. I don't usually find myself in the Battery Park area other than for work, but whenever I'm in the area, I always make sure to give this place a visit. There's plenty of places for kids to play, including the super long slide. In general, the park's clientele does trend towards families and large groups of children. That being said, it's never been uber-crowded, so anyone who's looking for just a peaceful, secluded trip to the park can easily do that. I've spent many days here just hanging out with friends and only a few couples and families here and there walked by. The only thing that sucks is that you can't really bring your dog here to run around, so make sure you take that into account. Also, it can be confusing to get to, given its vicinity to a number of high-rises, and you might think that it's a private park, but it's not at all. I realize the irony of writing this review while also wanting to keep this park more or less a hidden gem, but after my recent visits, I just felt I had to share. read more

Not sure why this place is called TEARdrop Park, but I had a joyful experience here! *cries tears of joy huehuehue* It's really close by to Pier 11 and Brookfield Place. There's plenty of green foliage to shield you from the beating sun, and a maze of paths leading to different areas. The way the sprinklers are placed can be said to be zen-like. Bathrooms here are way cleaner than the ones at other parks throughout the city. I came here just to try out the slide. :D read more

See all

I found this perfect park when I was studying at the BPC Public Library. While I took a break to re-energize, I walked outside and seek fresh air, devoid of surrounding chaotic noise. Let's agree, without a car or NJ transit ticket, fresh, peaceful air sounds impossible to find on a hot, summer day in Manhattan. Filled with wishful thinking, I walked towards the Hudson to find a tree and bench, and I hoped for the best. If by "best", that means "the best", then I found it. Who knew? As I walked through the initial row of trees, I may have just as well walked through the wardrobe doors, because I entered Narnia. I didn't find a tree, I found vast greenery filled with trees, plants, and shrubs, intermittently adorned with bright flowers. I didn't find a bench, I found enough benches to comprise stadium seating. I found a small playground with a huge slide. I found huge stone structures... wait, I thought I was in Narnia. Was this Stonehenge? My original wish for air and peace was simple but so desperate. Was this park just a mirage to answer my desparity? I decided that the vision of a glorious, peaceful park was too serene to exist, without my knowledge, after residing in Manhattan for 9 years. A Teardrop fell to my cheek and I returned to the library. Update: I returned the following day. My Narnia was real. Another Teardrop. read more

This place did NOT used to look like this. But as much as I want to rail against the ridiculous yuppie high-rises that sprang up all around in the last few years, they do a pretty good job of acting as huge, comfy mountains cradling this pristine little valley of grass and rock. Urban landscape indeed! Strangely, it reminds me of my days of building fortresses from sheets and chairs... Also I found my first geocache here! So here's another addition to my [short] list of outdoor places in this city where one can feel nicely insulated. Also: many points for proximity to the nicest public bathroom in the city, in the Solaire (one of said yuppie high-rises). read more

Wow! What a memorial, truely a site to see! The passing thru winds makes a sounds of people cries! it's sad saw the towers fall live! RIP

Great place for kids! One of the longest slides in Manhattan. Sand and rocks and giant wooden steps means hours of fun. Summer time they turn on water supply on top level and it's a splash fest. Bathrooms are around corner and battery park is a great place to spend half a day. read more

Teardrop Park is probably one of the lesser known parks in a complex surrounded by tall residential buildings, let alone in Battery Park City. With its artistic style and aesthetically pleasing to the mind and eye, you can spend a whole day here without even realizing your in New York City. All the features are integrated into the park, making it feel very natural yet imaginative, such as the children's slide carved and installed in a piece of rock. There are also a couple sand pits as well as a mini-tiered theater which I'm guessing little shows can be performed here for the kids. While the children play mostly in the south, in the north, just through a short tunnel through the rocks, is a large open grassy field with several benches surrounding it. A perfectly serene ambiance with lots of sun shining in makes this a great place to have a picnic. Throughout the park, you will also find short dirt paths, which irks you with curiosity. Although it will generally just lead you to the other side of a paved path, I find it very adventurous and imaginative. One of my favorite things about this park is that the majority of people tend to go to the larger neighboring park, Nelson A. Rockefeller, which makes Teardrop Park a perfect place for some peace and relaxation. This park definitely deserves more credit than it has received and I hope you check out this park if you're in the area. read more

See all

It is like small Action Park for kids tucked discretely between high rises. Yes your children will get scraped climbing the hundreds of huge stones or careening off the giant slide but it is well worth it. Bring a swimsuit to play in the natural looking sprinkler area ( there are huge rubber buttons on the stones to turn on the water). If you are pushing a stroller you may have to double back. But the park is worth the trip. (We took the ferry from NJ and would do it again) read more

Teardrop Park - The giant slide into the sand area. Worth the trip for this alone. - Parks Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Hidden behind apartment buildings. Like a mini-version of Central Park for me. An urban oasis. My toddler had a great time there. Great cafes, very nice public restroom and huge playground nearby. Definitely worth my trip from Jersey. read more

See all

Best playground ever when the water is turned on. Keeps my 7 year old entertained for 5+ hours. Bring water guns and a bucket. Water is generally on Memorial day through end of September. read more

My little brother loved this place !!! The long slide is AMAZINGGGG !!! read more

When you wanna step off the streets and into nature but don't wanna make the commitment of going along the Hudson, this is an awesome spot (and even when your train of thought isn't quite that nuanced and you just wanna kick back). I've been past a few times before and somehow never thought to duck in, but it's certainly a nice little refuge from the faux bustle down here. read more

Teardrop Park - Parks Near Me - New York, New York

This park is right across from Battery Park City. It is quite small and has a loooong slide. Of course, it is filled with children all over. A lot of the kids play with mud so the slide has mud all over it. None the less, it is a cute little park and it's fun to watch the kids run around. read more

Teardrop is one of NYC's hidden treasures - it's not easy to find, but it's worth looking for. It has a terrific, long slide and an area for water play that looks like natural geysers. read more

Teardrop Park is part of Battery Park City so it really shouldn't have a separate listing but since it does I'll write about it (and mention it in my Battery Park City review). This park occupies a space between Warren Street and Murray Street and is surrounded by buildings. It's broken up into 2 areas. The north area is dominated by a field and a path with benches around it. The south half is the really interesting half with densely vegetated walkways, shaded semi-private sitting areas, and a large metal slide/play area (I'm determined to find a time when there aren't kids or witnesses there so I can try it out). The park in general has a really sculptural design element to it and is definitely worth going out of your way to check out despite it's relatively small size. read more

This hidden parks is great find, off of Murray Street and across the way from Rockefeller Park. Not from the neighborhood? That's ok - There are at least three parking lots within the same block as the entrance to Teardrop. Shake Shack across the street so you can feed your tikes and grab yourself shake (you know you deserve it). TP is famous for its ginormously long slide. But don't be scared, even with water being dropped onto the slide, i have yet to see anyone get hurt. Water play area on higher grounds (behind the top of slide) accessible by ramp (if you have a stroller) or by stairs. Although the water area is a bit tiny for my taste and without shade but still beautiful and well designed. read more

Teardrop Park - Parks Near Me - New York, New York

I love this park - great respite from the city life. So many little surprises as you wind your way through on the path to overlook the beautiful open space or climb down to a sandy beach-like area. I like the cliff like area. A perfect place to have a snack and relax from touring read more

A pleasant park, quite out of the way and artfully concealed between tall buildings, we came across it during a walk around the area near the site of the world trade center and battery park city. The park is unusual for its landscaping and highly planned environment. i've just read other reviews and comments about the park, so I'm not saying anything original here, but the park doesn't feel safe for small kids, because of the rock formations, especially near the slide. I know "concerned parents" can be really boring, but i'd add there too many blind spots in the main areas (water and top of the slide), so it's hard to relax and just let the kids play. Good recreational spaces, of course, don't always have to cater to small kids, and so leaving their needs aside, the park does feel very intimate, a good spot to read a book or to lounge around for an hour or two. But after an hour, I'd probably wander off in search of people, and noise, and proximity. read more

One of those hidden gems of NYC. I went here based on a list of quiet places one can find in the city. It did not disappoint. The greenery was lush, and I was not expecting the large jutting rock formation with a tunnel at its center. Even more unexpected was the metal slide behind it! I unabashedly stepped in line with the parents and their kids because why not? You have to walk a couple blocks from the nearest train stop to get to it, but one would expect some kind of journey to find any escape from the bustle of Manhattan. read more