Walking Tour : Riverside Park

This is Lewis' "backyard"

     As a Manhattanite living on the Upper West Side, Lewis is right between Central Park and that lovely strip of greenery named Riverside Park.  Yesterday, we left his apartment and strolled south through three-quarters of it to the end.  

     The curving lines, patterns of design, and Nature's beauty were all so impressive, I thought you'd enjoy seeing it, too!

Thanks to recessed roads, traffic noise from Riverside Drive and the Henry Hudson Parkway is nonexistent.  

The Community Garden accepts volunteers, and they really have some amazing flowers!

Untamed beauty exists in the exposed Manhattan bedrock (above) and looking out over the Hudson River (below).

The promenade is quite long; perfect for people-watching.

Seen above, those air vents (in the middle of the lawn) are over Amtrak's train tunnel.  They emit a lot of heat.

Some people went rock-climbing.

Others wheeled out their pet birds for fresh air.

Graceful, sweeping staircases give access to stately townhouses, which are high above the greenway.  (It shows how steep Manhattan island is from the river!) 

Below is the back of the Robert Ray Hamilton fountain.

Built in 1906--with money bequeathed to the city from Hamilton (a great grandson of Alexander Hamilton), it is one of the last horse troughs in the city.

Below, the pavement material changes again, including cobblestones under rows of classic 1930's-era park benches (the armrests are Art Deco circles).  

Eventually, stone chess/checkers tables appear in the middle.

The road on the left begins to decsend, to greet the park, as we near West 72nd Street.  More ornamental homes resist demolition, to fancily punctuate the neighborhood.

Looking at the buildings here, you might imagine London!

*To see our trip to London, please click this link: 

https://halfwindsorfullthrottle.blogspot.com/2021/10/our-trip-to-london-uk-part-1-which.html

     Turning left (eastward) from the park, you'll encounter West End Avenue, which Lewis relates to Park Avenue: elegant homes, a wide two-way street, floral décor near doormen, etc.

I can't wait to return, as the autumn colors arrive!