10 Types Of New Yorkers You See At The Park

Katherine Ripley • March 29, 2016

Going to the park is probably NYC’s most popular past time. People-watching is a close second. So to combine these two much-loved activities, let’s take a look at all the types of people you’ll see at the park in NYC:

1. Joggers

IMG_4074B — [(vincent desjardins)/Flickr]

Despite the fact that this city is 90 percent concrete, this is a running city. You will always see joggers at the park who seem like they’re only there to make everyone else look bad.

2. Photographers

They’re probably there just to take pictures of nature, but you stay clear of them just in case. You might end up on somebody’s blog with a hotdog stuffed in your mouth.

3. Dog people

This is a dog city, so every time you go to the park you will always see at least a dozen people walking dogs. Certain areas of the park turn into unofficial off-leash playgrounds.

4. People there to flirt with dog people

If you watch closely, you’ll see them wait for an opportunity, and then approach an attractive New Yorker walking a dog, using the dog as the conversation starter. These people may or may not also have a dog with them.

5. Lovers

The type that make you green with envy if you’re currently single. They either stroll way too slowly down the pathways, or they have a picnic in the grass and couldn’t be more fucking adorable.

6. People reading

Nothing in else in the world is going on except whatever is in that book. That’s why it’s so easy to take pictures of them without them noticing.

7. People pretending to read

You might fall into this category if you’re people-watching. You might inadvertently make eye contact with other people who are pretending to read but actually spying. Awkward.

8. Old women feeding the birds

This trend seems to be dying since the only birds that will come are obnoxious pigeons, and once you start feeding them they won’t leave you alone.

9. NYC Parents

The kind that make you dream about how you will one day raise a family here and steadfastly refuse to move to the suburbs.

10. Tourists

Distinguishable from the native New Yorkers because of their clothing, iPad selfies, or children who are begging for ice cream from the stand where a popsicle costs $5. They buy it begrudgingly because they didn’t plan ahead and bring snacks.

Cover photo credit: BriYYZ/Flickr