There are parts of Manhattan in New York City that feel to be almost a world away from an area such as Midtown. Inwood Hill Park and Fort Tryon Park are two connected parks in the northwestern corner of the borough that are a prime example of this feeling. Despite being located only about ten miles from Times Square in Midtown Manhattan, this area of the island could not feel more different. These parks prove the invaluable effect of grand open space within an incredibly dense city environment. They provide a respite from hurried city life, and an outlet for exercise and contemplation. Furthermore, the two interconnected parks in the corner of Manhattan provide residents and visitors alike amazing and free views as well as a chance to experience the island in a very natural state.
Inwood Hill Park and Fort Tryon Park are located on prime real estate on the Northwestern corner of Manhattan, with sweeping views of the Hudson River, New Jersey, Spuyten Duyvil, and the Harlem River. From certain vantage points, the George Washington Bridge makes its commanding presence known for all to take in. Largely located on steep hill and bluffs that rise sharply above the Hudson River, the parks offer an incredible amount of separation and escape from the noise and hustle of the city while still being within a close physical proximity. The geography of the area makes for a unique experience in relation to the New York City parks. Steep hills rise close to the Hudson, formed by glacial outcroppings. The parks are also largely natural in character and Inwood Hill Park is largely wooded and non-landscaped. Fort Tryon, while also wooded and steep, features a more landscaped path system that winds through its boundaries. Meanwhile, both parks also feature numerous fields and athletic facilities within their boundaries. These fields and facilities have proven to be extremely popular with the surrounding neighborhoods. These areas, including Washington Heights, Inwood, and parts of the Bronx, are incredibly dense and suffer from an adequate amount of open space. These parks play a crucial role in providing open space and, as a result, nearby residents put the area to good use and flock to it in droves.
The two parks were created and opened to he public throughout the 1920s and 30s. Once completed, the parks offered a continuous and expansive green space from 190th St northward to 218th St and the northern tip of Manhattan. Its boundaries connect to the Hudson River on the west side and near Broadway on the east. Together, the parks comprise about 263 acres of parkland within one of the most densely developed places in America. As New York City expanded and prospered in the early twentieth century, John D. Rockefeller Jr. purchased an existing country estate on the site of Fort Tryon Park with the purpose of preserving it as prized open space. He then hired Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., the son of the famous urban park designer of Central Park and others, to design and plan the park which he would then give over to the city for public use. Rockefeller even went as far as purchasing land in the Palisades on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River to preserve the natural and pristine views from he park. It was a classic example of land preservation in an era when built development and growth on land was heavily favored. The city eventually purchased the area of Inwood Hill Park to add to the Fort Tryon area to achieve a remarkably natural corner of one of the most heavily developed islands in the world.
In addition, to preserving a pristine space of land for natural uses, the area is also a cultural destination. The Cloisters Museum, which is a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of art is located prominently within Fort Tryon Park. Perched on a high hilltop, the architecture of the building is reminiscent of a European medieval abbey, and it features artwork and displays from that era. It only adds to the attractions within the confines of these parks, which are an incredible asset to the city and he working-class neighborhoods within close proximity to its boundaries. Although the parks are rugged and located in the far northwest corner of Manhattan, they are easily accessible via the A line on the subway. This has opened up the park to the larger city so everybody can eventually experience its views and wonders. In that, the preservation of this corner of Manhattan has been an enormously successful endeavor.
