Pelham Bay Park and Orchard Beach

Pelham Bay Park and Orchard Beach is New York City's largest green space and includes several small islands

More than triple the size of Central Park, Pelham Bay Park is New York City's largest green space consisting of 2,766 acres on both sides of the Hutchinson River and several islands. The area originally inhabited by the Siwanoy Indians and was sold to Thomas Pell in 1654. During the American Revolution, the track of land served as a buffer between Manhattan occupied by the Redcoats and colonist controlled Westchester County with a pivotal battle fought at Pell's Point where the patriots thwarted a British advance in 1776. Many remnants of the park's history remain observable to modern day visitors, including the 19th century Pell Mansion, carriage houses and cemetery and the ruins of the Hunter Mansion.

The southeast section of Pelham Bay Park has wide variety of recreational facilities including basketball, bocce, handball and tennis courts, baseball, soccer and football fields, roller hockey rinks, golf courses, driving range and a track and field facility that was newly renovated as part of New York's 2012 Olympic bid. The undeveloped sections of the park offer hiking trails and bike and bridle paths in wetlands, salt marshes and grassy meadows with vast portions protected as wildlife sanctuary.

In the northeast section of the park is Orchard Beach, a two kilometre man-made beach known locally as "The Riviera". Catering to sunbather's and beach sports enthusiasts, the beachfront pavilion has concessions, showering and changing facilities, beach volleyball courts and guarded bathing areas.

Cost: Free

Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Website: Pelham Bay Park or Orchard Beach

Address: Middletown Road and Bruckner Blvd, Bronx

Nearby attractions: The Cloisters, Fort Tryon Park, Bronx Zoo, New York Botanical Garden, Yankee Stadium

Getting There on Transit
Subway Train / Bus	Subway Station	Walking Time
6	Pelham Bay Park (Last Stop)	3 minutes
Take the 6 train to the end of the line, Pelham Bay Park, exit near the intersection of Bruckner Blvd and Westchester Avenue, follow Bruckner Blvd to park entrance (3 minutes)