Most Manhattan park guides stop at Central Park and Riverside. Highbridge Park — a 130-acre stretch of cliffs, woodland, and the city’s oldest standing bridge running along the Harlem River from West 155th to Dyckman Street — is one of the most underused green spaces in Manhattan. If you live in Washington Heights, Inwood, or the South Bronx, this is your park. Here is the resident’s service guide.
Quick Facts: Highbridge Park at a Glance
- Address: W 155 St and Dyckman St, between Edgecombe Avenue and Amsterdam Avenue, Manhattan, NY (zip codes 10032, 10033, 10039, 10040, 10452)
- Acreage: 130.10 acres
- Park ID: M037 (Community Park)
- Borough: Manhattan (Washington Heights / Inwood)
- Hours: Open daily 6:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m. (standard NYC Parks hours)
- Council District: 10 (Council Member Carmen De La Rosa)
- Community Boards: 10 and 12
- Park Condition Score: 76 (NYC Parks Vital Signs)
How to Get to Highbridge Park
The park’s footprint is long and narrow, hugging the Harlem River cliffs. The two best entry points cover most of what you will want to do.
Subway
- 1 train to 157 St, 168 St, 181 St, 191 St, or Dyckman St — walk east to Amsterdam Avenue.
- A train to 175 St or 181 St — walk east toward Amsterdam Avenue.
- C train to 155 St — walk to the southern end of the park near Edgecombe Avenue.
Bus
The M3, M101, Bx6, and Bx13 all stop along the park’s western edge on Amsterdam and St. Nicholas Avenues.
Parking
This is one of the few large Manhattan parks with realistic street parking. Free street parking (read meters carefully) is available along Edgecombe Avenue, Amsterdam Avenue, and side streets in Washington Heights. There is no dedicated parking lot inside the park. Garage parking is available near the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal at 178th Street if you need a guarantee.
The High Bridge — and Why You Should Walk It
The High Bridge is the oldest standing bridge in New York City. It carries pedestrians and cyclists across the Harlem River between Manhattan (West 172nd Street) and the Bronx (West 170th Street and University Avenue). It reopened in 2015 after a 45-year closure and is open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (seasonal hours may vary in winter — call 311 to confirm).
The bridge connects to the Highbridge Tower, the only surviving structure from the original Croton Aqueduct that supplied New York City with fresh water beginning in 1842.
Restrooms in Highbridge Park
Public restrooms are available at the following locations:
- Highbridge Recreation Center and Pool (Amsterdam Avenue at West 173rd Street) — restrooms available during recreation center operating hours
- Quisqueya Playground — seasonal restrooms (typically May through October)
Reliability note: Recreation Center restrooms are the most consistent option year-round. Playground restrooms close in the off-season.
Active closure (May 2026): The Highbridge Recreation Center gymnasium and Men’s Restroom and Locker Room are closed for construction from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 1 and Monday, May 4 through Thursday, May 7, 2026.
Things to Do in Highbridge Park
Highbridge Pool (Outdoor)
One of the largest outdoor pools in New York City, originally built in 1936. The Highbridge Pool typically opens for the summer season in late June and runs through Labor Day. It is free to use with a lock for your belongings. Swim test required for the deep end.
NYC’s First Mountain Biking Course
Highbridge Park hosts the city’s first official mountain biking trail system, located on the steep wooded slopes east of Amsterdam Avenue. Bikers must follow posted trail rules.
Highbridge Skate Park
One of the better-rated skate parks in the city, located near the Recreation Center. Open during park hours.
Hiking Trails
Highbridge contains real woodland trails through native and exotic forest — northern red oak, hickory, sweetgum, tulip trees, sassafras, and hackberry. The park is home to the dusky salamander (a city-rare species) and a genetically distinct population of white-footed mouse found nowhere else.
Other Facilities
Baseball fields, basketball courts, handball courts, volleyball courts, fitness equipment, playgrounds (including Quisqueya Playground), spray showers, Wi-Fi hot spots, and the Highbridge Recreation Center.
Permits: How to Reserve Fields, Courts, and Group Areas
Permits for fields, courts, and large group gatherings (over 20 people) at Highbridge Park are issued by the NYC Parks Department, not at the park itself.
- Online application: nycgovparks.org/permits
- Special event permits: Apply at least 21 days in advance for events under 500 people; 30 days for larger events.
- Athletic field permits: Apply through the NYC Parks online permit system. Permits are required for organized practices, games, and league play.
- Picnic permits: Required for groups over 20 people.
Dog Rules and Off-Leash Hours
Highbridge Park is designated dog-friendly with off-leash hours that follow the NYC Parks system-wide schedule:
- Off-leash hours: 9:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. daily, in designated dog-friendly areas only.
- Outside those hours, dogs must be on a leash 6 feet or shorter.
- Dogs are not permitted on athletic fields, in playgrounds, in the pool area, or on the High Bridge itself.
- Owners must clean up after their dogs — failure to do so is a $250 fine.
Accessibility
Highbridge Park sits on dramatic terrain — cliffs, stairs, and steep grades are common. Wheelchair-accessible entrances are available at the Highbridge Recreation Center (Amsterdam Avenue at 173rd Street) and at several playgrounds along Edgecombe Avenue. The High Bridge itself is wheelchair-accessible from both the Manhattan and Bronx sides. The mountain biking and woodland trails are not accessible.
Seasonal Schedule
- Pool season: Late June through Labor Day
- Spray showers: Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend (weather dependent)
- High Bridge pedestrian access: 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. summer; reduced winter hours
- Playgrounds: Open year-round, dawn to dusk
- Recreation Center: Open year-round (check facility page for current hours)
Reporting Problems: 311 and Parks Department Contacts
If you see something wrong in Highbridge Park — broken equipment, dumped trash, downed trees, vandalism, or unsafe conditions — here is how to report it:
- 311 (NYC’s general service line): Call 311 or visit nyc.gov/311 to report park condition issues, illegal dumping, after-hours noise, or unsafe trees.
- NYC Parks general number: 212-639-9675 (also reaches 311)
- Manhattan Parks Borough Office: 212-408-0100
- Park Enforcement Patrol (PEP): Reach via 311 for non-emergency rule violations.
- Emergencies: 911
- Email the Commissioner: nyc.gov/main/forms/email-the-commissioner—department-of-parks—recreation
The Anchor Parks Investment
Highbridge Park is one of five parks receiving major investment under the NYC Parks Anchor Parks initiative — a $150 million program targeting underserved large neighborhood parks. Phase 1 construction is underway between Laurel Hill Terrace/Amsterdam Avenue and Harlem River Drive. Recent capital investment in the park totals $63.2 million. Expect periodic construction closures over the next several years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Highbridge Park safe?
The park’s Vital Signs Park Condition Score is 76 (out of 100), placing it in line with other large Manhattan community parks. Standard urban park caution applies — stay on lit paths after dark, and the park is most active during daylight and weekend hours.
Can you fish in the Harlem River from Highbridge Park?
Yes, with a New York State freshwater fishing license. Catch-and-release is recommended due to advisories on Harlem River fish consumption.
Is the High Bridge open to bicycles?
Yes. The bridge is shared-use for pedestrians and cyclists. Cyclists must yield to pedestrians.
Where do I rent a field at Highbridge Park?
All field rentals are processed online through the NYC Parks permit system at nycgovparks.org/permits. There is no on-site rental office.
Are barbecues allowed in Highbridge Park?
Highbridge Park does not have designated BBQ areas. The closest Manhattan parks with permitted BBQ zones are Inwood Hill Park and Riverside Park.
Sources
- NYC Parks Department — Highbridge Park: nycgovparks.org/parks/highbridge-park
- NYC Parks Department — Highbridge Recreation Center: nycgovparks.org/facilities/recreationcenters/MX261
- NYC Parks Anchor Parks Master Plan — Highbridge Park
- NYC Parks Vital Signs (Park Condition Score, capital investment)
- NYC 311: nyc.gov/311
