According to NYC Parks, the new map features a green space for every stop throughout NYC.
Contrary to popular belief, Central Park is not NYC’s only park. In fact, there are over a thousand green spaces, parks and playgrounds in the five boroughs which are visited by thousands of tourists and natives each year.
As a quirky initiative, NYC Parks put together a colorful poster based on the iconic NYC subway map to highlight all of those spaces. “Next Stop: NYC Parks,” showcases some of the lesser-known green areas, including places like Cooper Triangle and Imagination Playground.
While the parks don’t necessarily correspond with exact subway stop geography, it gives a pretty close idea of where they are located in relation.
If you take a quick look, you’ll notice that the park map is almost just as intricate as the actual subway map!
The creation of the map comes just in time for the implementation of the “Parks Without Borders” program across the city which is meant to make parks more accessible to their surrounding communities by lowering gates, maximizing green space and beautifying the spaces overall. Some parks on the list to be renovated include Seward Park in the Lower East Side and Van Cortland Park in the Bronx (home to one of the top running trails in the country).
If you’re on the hunt for a last minute gift for the cartographer in your life, or if you’re a map enthusiast yourself, you can purchase a full-size print version at the NYC Parks Pop-Up Holiday Shop at the Union Square Holiday Market. The shop is open weekdays and Saturdays from 11 am to 8 pm, and Sundays from 11 am – 7 pm through December 24.
Featured image: @nycparks via Instagram