Riverside Park is Manhattan’s four-mile waterfront park along the Hudson River, running from West 72nd Street to West 153rd Street. It’s a NYC Parks-managed property, one of only eight officially designated scenic landmarks in the City of New York, and the most-used West Side park north of Hell’s Kitchen. This is the resident’s service hub: addresses, hours, permits, dog rules, restrooms, parking, and how to report a problem.
Address, hours, and contact
Official park boundary: Riverside Drive to Hudson River, West 72nd Street to West 153rd Street, Manhattan. The NYC Parks page narrative describes the park as stretching to 158th Street, reflecting the contiguous Riverside Park / Riverside Park North corridor; the formal cataloged boundary ends at 153rd Street.
Park ID: M071. Latitude/longitude 40.79669, -73.97604 (NYC Parks parks database).
Hours: Riverside Park follows the standard NYC Parks open-hours rule — 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. daily, unless posted otherwise at individual playgrounds, courts, or facilities.
Ranger and Parks Department contact: NYC Parks routes all general park inquiries through the Department of Parks & Recreation contact channels. Reach an Urban Park Ranger or report a Parks issue by calling 311 (NYC Service) or by submitting the Contact Parks form at nycgovparks.org/contact-parks. For the 79th Street Boat Basin specifically, NYC Parks lists boatbasin@parks.nyc.gov as the direct email.
Conservancy: Riverside Park Conservancy is the friends-of-the-park nonprofit and is referenced as the auxiliary information source by NYC Parks on the Riverside Park page itself.
Permits — fields, courts, and large gatherings
Riverside Park’s recreational facilities include baseball fields, basketball courts, handball courts, roller hockey, tennis courts, a skate park, running tracks, and barbecuing areas. Per NYC Parks rules, group use of any field or court requires a permit, and any event of 20 or more people requires a Special Events permit. The permit families that apply at Riverside Park:
- Field, Court, and Athletic Tournament Permit — required for any group reserving a ballfield, basketball, handball, or roller hockey court. Each group must purchase and possess a permit; Parks reserves the right to ask for proof. Apply at nycgovparks.org/permits.
- Special Events Permit — required when 20 or more people will be present. This covers school picnics, birthday parties, field days, fitness meetups, photo shoots, and most catered or amplified-sound gatherings.
- Tennis Permit — every player must have an NYC Parks tennis permit or a single-play ticket. Renew online or buy single-play tickets through the Parks Permits portal.
- Barbecuing — barbecuing is allowed only in designated barbecuing areas inside Riverside Park. No permit is required for individual/family barbecues at posted spots, but the Special Events permit applies if the group is 20+.
- Kayak / Canoe Launch Permit — required for use of any NYC Parks kayak or canoe launch facility.
- Metal Detector Permit — required to operate a metal detector anywhere in NYC parks.
Apply for any of these through the central NYC Parks Permits portal at nycgovparks.org/permits. Most applications are processed online; tournament-scale or amplified-sound events require lead time of several weeks.
Dog rules and off-leash schedule
Riverside Park has more dedicated dog infrastructure than almost any other Manhattan park, with five enclosed dog runs spanning the length of the park.
Official dog runs in Riverside Park (NYC Parks listing):
- Riverside Drive at West 72nd Street (run)
- Riverside Drive at West 87th Street (run)
- Riverside Drive at West 105th Street (run)
- Riverside Park South Dog Run — Hudson River Greenway at West 72nd Street (run)
- Riverside Park 142nd Street Dog Run — West 142nd Street & Riverside Drive (run)
NYC Parks also publishes a Dog Owners’ Guide to Riverside Park specific to these locations.
Off-leash rules citywide (apply at Riverside Park): Inside the fenced dog runs, dogs are off-leash during park hours. Outside the dog runs, dogs must be leashed on a leash no more than six feet long. Riverside Park is not listed by NYC Parks as a designated off-leash park outside the runs — meaning the citywide off-leash window (park-open to 9:00 a.m., and 9:00 p.m. to park-close) does not apply to the open lawns of Riverside Park. Off-leash use in Riverside Park is confined to the fenced runs.
General NYC Parks dog rules that apply here:
- Owners must carry proof of current dog license and rabies vaccination while in any NYC park.
- Owners must pick up after their dog and dispose of waste in park-provided containers.
- Dogs are not permitted in playgrounds, fountains, ball fields, basketball/handball/tennis courts, spray showers, or any bathing facility.
- Aggressive or unsocialized dogs must remain leashed and separated from other dogs at all times.
Restrooms
NYC Parks lists Public Restrooms as a facility category at Riverside Park. Permanent restroom buildings inside the park include the 79th Street Rotunda area, the Hippo Playground area (West 91st Street), the Dinosaur Playground area (West 97th Street), and the recreation field cluster between West 100th and West 110th Streets. Restrooms at the south end of the park are within Riverside Park South near Pier I. Hours typically run from 8:00 a.m. to dusk during warm-weather months; in winter, expect reduced availability with portable units in their place.
For real-time accessibility, check the NYC Parks website park page or call 311 before arrival — restroom open-status is one of the categories NYC Service tracks for parks complaints.
Parking — street, lot, and garage
Riverside Park does not have an internal NYC Parks public parking lot for general visitors. Parking options:
- Street parking on Riverside Drive and the side streets crossing it (West 72nd through West 153rd) is metered or alternate-side-regulated. Check the posted sign on the block — alternate-side suspension days are published on NYC.gov.
- West 79th Street circle historically offered limited public parking near the boat basin; with the boat basin closed for reconstruction through anticipated 2028 reopening, expect construction-related restrictions on that entire interchange.
- Commercial garages are concentrated along West End Avenue, Broadway, and the residential side streets between the park and Broadway. Expect typical Upper West Side commercial rates.
Most park visitors use public transit. The 1 train (Broadway local) runs the length of the park two avenues east; the B and C trains on Central Park West are a 10–15 minute walk to the park’s eastern edge at most points. MTA bus M5 runs along Riverside Drive itself.
Seasonal schedule
Riverside Park’s seasonal cycle is set by the recreational facility calendar:
- April through October — full operation. All five dog runs open, restrooms staffed, ballfield permits active, tennis courts open, the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway open for cycling, BBQ areas open.
- November through March — reduced operations. Some restrooms close or switch to portable units. Tennis courts may close depending on freeze conditions. BBQ areas are typically not in use. Dog runs and the greenway remain open year-round.
- 79th Street Boat Basin (marina) — currently closed for dredging and reconstruction. NYC Parks states the marina is anticipated to reopen in 2028. No vessel dockage, moorage, anchorage, or launch services are currently available.
Accessibility
Riverside Park’s terrain is tiered — the park terraces down in three levels from Riverside Drive to the Hudson River promenade, a layout dating to the 1937–1941 Robert Moses-era reconstruction. Accessible entry points and ramp access exist at:
- West 72nd Street entrance (south end, level access to Riverside Park South and the greenway)
- West 79th Street Rotunda area (ramp access to the lower promenade)
- West 91st Street (ramp access)
- West 110th Street ramp
The Manhattan Waterfront Greenway (the riverside bike and pedestrian path) is level and continuous for its full length inside Riverside Park and is the most accessible route for visitors using wheelchairs or strollers. For specific accessibility questions or to request reasonable accommodations, contact NYC Parks via the Contact Parks form or by calling 311.
How to report a problem in Riverside Park
Use 311 for all non-emergency Parks issues. The NYC Service system routes Parks complaints to the Manhattan Parks borough office.
- 911 — crimes in progress or medical emergencies inside the park.
- 311 — broken benches, damaged playground equipment, dead or dangerous trees, overflowing trash, restroom closures, graffiti, illegal dumping, unleashed dogs outside dog runs, fallen branches, irrigation problems, lighting outages, drinking-fountain repair.
- NYC Parks Contact form at nycgovparks.org/contact-parks — for non-urgent inquiries, permit questions, and general feedback.
- Riverside Park Conservancy — for volunteer programs, conservancy-funded improvements, and event partnerships.
- Animal cruelty — call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS.
- Lost or found dog — contact Animal Care Centers of NYC (nycacc.org).
Frequently asked questions
What are Riverside Park’s hours?
Riverside Park is open from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. daily, following the standard NYC Parks open-hours rule. Individual playgrounds, courts, and facilities may post earlier closing times.
Where are the dog runs in Riverside Park?
Five fenced dog runs: Riverside Drive at West 72nd, West 87th, and West 105th Streets; Riverside Park South at the Hudson River Greenway at West 72nd Street; and West 142nd Street at Riverside Drive.
Can I have my dog off-leash on the lawns in Riverside Park?
No. Riverside Park is not listed by NYC Parks as a designated off-leash park. Off-leash use is confined to the five fenced dog runs. Outside the runs, dogs must be on a leash no more than six feet long.
Do I need a permit for a birthday party in Riverside Park?
Yes, if 20 or more people will be present. The NYC Parks Special Events permit applies. Apply at nycgovparks.org/permits — allow several weeks for processing.
Is the 79th Street Boat Basin open?
No. NYC Parks states the marina is closed for dredging and reconstruction and is anticipated to reopen in 2028. No dockage, moorage, anchorage, or launch services are available. Related inquiries go to boatbasin@parks.nyc.gov.
How do I report a problem in Riverside Park?
Call 311 for non-emergencies (broken equipment, restroom closures, off-leash dogs outside runs, trash overflow, etc.) and 911 for crimes in progress or medical emergencies. Submit non-urgent inquiries at nycgovparks.org/contact-parks.
Where can I park near Riverside Park?
Street parking on Riverside Drive and crossing side streets is metered or alternate-side regulated. There is no internal NYC Parks public lot. Commercial garages run along West End Avenue and Broadway. Most visitors use the 1 train or M5 bus.
Sources
- NYC Department of Parks & Recreation — Riverside Park: nycgovparks.org/parks/riverside-park
- NYC Parks — Dog-friendly Areas: nycgovparks.org/facilities/dogareas
- NYC Parks — Parks Permits: nycgovparks.org/permits
- NYC Parks — 79th Street Boat Basin closure notice (Riverside Park directions page)
- NYC Service — 311 (call or nyc.gov/311) for Parks complaints and reporting
