Mark Baker/AP
DCL
Manhattan's Central Park certainly gets most of the love from tourists and New Yorkers alike—and okay, I'll admit it. It's pretty damn iconic. But one thing it's not is the largest?a common misconception held even by NYC natives. No, that distinction belongs to the Bronx's Pelham Bay Park, which isn't just bigger than Central Park. It's a whopping three times bigger.
Pelham Bay Park boasts 13 miles of beautiful saltwater shorelines, miles and miles of hiking trails, plenty of playgrounds for children, and two golf courses. Okay, so the golf courses ain't that green, but everything else is great.
Which brings me to the point of all this?we've got to make sure New York City's biggest park stays green. And if you happen to be in the Earth Day spirit this weekend (and be in the New York area this weekend), you can come join in a great community effort to lend a hand doing just that.
At 10 am this Saturday, volunteers are meeting at the Park House in Pelham Bay Park to plant trees, remove invasive species, and work to keep the park beautiful. It should be a great event, and for many New Yorkers, perhaps a first visit to a spectacular park that deserves more attention than it gets. Sign up at Volunteer Central
Oh yeah, and I'll be there helping out and covering the event, so make sure to say hello if you join in. Finally, after volunteering, you can head back the next day for Earth Fest, a free festival featuring concerts, green exhibits, and general good timery for the entire family.
Let's show New York City's largest park some love this weekend. See you there.
