Van Cortlandt Park

Slow and Steady Wins: Tortoise vs Hare

What and Where

Somewhat hidden away in the far northern reaches of the city lies its third largest park, Van Cortlandt Park. As with many of the city's parks on the weekends, this one often hosts numerous immigrant sportsmen and women  playing a particular sport with other folks of similar origins. You will find South Asian family's camped out for a day long cricket match as well as Latin Americans competing in weekend leagues.

Included in the premises along with an assortment of tennis courts, baseball diamonds, cricket pitches(?) soccer fields and basketball courts is a track, golf course, hiking trail,  fitness para-course, and renown cross-country trail. A general map of the park can be found here.

Facility

The track and fitness equipment are unfortunately on opposite sides of the park. The track can be found inside the stadium located on Broadway between 240th and 242nd street. Aside from the full 400 meter track there exists a stadium setup with stairs available to compliment all of your sprinting desires.

 At the northern tip of the parade ground, which is the large relatively flat field spanning from 242nd Street until the Henry Hudson Parkway, you will find the fitness equipment. Much of the equipment is spread along a para-course that runs the perimeter of the parade ground. Most of the useful relevant and useful equipment can be found towards the northern end of the oval.

The fitness equipment is part of a larger para-course that runs on the eastern side of the parade ground oval. The pull-up bars and decline bench are found at the northern tip. There are two pull-up bars of differing heights adjacent to one another. The bench has a bar at the end which can be used to hang on or two place one's feet in order to to situps. A bit to the southeast of the pull up station are parallel bars which are hidden under some trees on the side of the path. Further along the path you will also spot two benches for situps/core exercises. The park used to have chain linked gymnastics rings but these were removed circa 2005. 

The parade ground running path happens to also be part of a renown cross-country running track that often hosts high school and collegiate running events. The running surface varies in parts but is generally easy on the feet and consists of hard packed dirt or finely crushed gravel.You can follow the trail into the woods where it winds its way up and down through this urban oasis, or you can simply run laps around the oval.


Regardless of your sport of choice this park has something for just about every type of athlete and it certainly warrants my highest praise.