More Than Just A Park: How New Yorkers Use Public Spaces
New York City is known for being busy. There are always people walking somewhere, cars driving by, buildings everywhere, and something happening around every corner. With so much activity, it can sometimes be difficult to find a place to slow down. Public parks give New Yorkers a place where they can take a break from the city while still being part of it.
For this photo essay, I wanted to explore how people use public parks in their everyday lives. I visited Madison Square Park in Manhattan and the scooter park in Queens. I photographed people relaxing, walking, playing basketball, spending time with family and friends, and overall just enjoying their surroundings. Although the two parks were different, they showed me how important public spaces can be to a community.
Open lawn at Madison Square Park
At Madison Square Park, one of the first things I noticed was the amount of nature that was surrounded by the city. Tall buildings and busy streets are only a short distance away, but inside the park there are trees, grass, flowers, and shaded areas. People can walk into the park and experience a different environment without actually leaving Manhattan.
Bee Home
There were also smaller details that stood out to me. One was a bee home surrounded by plants. It was interesting because it showed that the park is not only a space for people, but that animals and insects also depend on green spaces in the city. Something as small as a bee home can easily be ignored, but seeing it made me pay more attention to the different purposes of the park.
Colorful Sculpture
Giant Fire Hydrant
Art was another noticeable feature of Madison Square Park. Large, colorful sculptures stood between the trees, including a giant orange fire hydrant. These pieces immediately stood out against the green environment. People walking through the park could experience art without going to a museum. It showed me that parks can combine nature, art, and everyday life in one place.
Fountain
Walking Path
The people were still the most interesting part of the park. Some walked through quickly, while others sat down and stayed for a while. People sat at the tables eating and talking, while others relaxed alone. These. Simple moments showed me that people do not need a major reason to visit a park. Sometimes having somewhere to sit and slow down is enough.
I spoke with a guy named Marcus, a 28-year-old office worker who visits Madison Square Park a few times here and there during his lunch break. He explained that the park gives him a chance to get away from his work environment for a little bit.
“ I usually come here during lunch because sitting outside for 20 minutes helps me clear my head,” Marcus said. “ It’s nice to get away from the office and just be outside.”
People Sitting by the Water
Musicians
Another interesting part of Madison Square Park was the live music. Three musicians played together along one of the paths using a saxophone, drums, and a bass. People could hear music while walking through the park. Some stopped to listen, while others continued walking. The performance made the park feel lively and showed how public spaces can create unexpected experiences during a normal day.
Shake Shack
The park also gives people places to eat and meet with others. The Shake Shack and nearby seating areas were surrounded by people walking, ordering food, and spending time together. It was another example of how many different activities can happen inside one public space.
A Different Park, but a Similar Purpose
The neighborhood park in Queens had a different feeling. Madison Square Park seemed to have many workers, tourists,s and people passing through, while the Queens park felt more connected to the surrounding neighborhood. There were basketball courts, playground equipment, benches, and areas where families and groups could gather.
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Basketball Game
One of the most active areas was the basketball court. A group of young people played together as others stood nearby. Basketball courts are important because they give people a free place to exercise and spend time with friends. Instead of needing to pay for a gym subscription or another activity, people can simply come to the park and play.
Playground
Water Playground
The playground also showed how parks can serve families. Children had a place to run around and play while adults could sit nearby, talk, or watch them. Unlike some forms of entertainment in the city, families do not have to buy a ticket just to spend time at a public playground.
For my second interview, I spoke with Linda Martinez, a 42-year-old mother who said she brings her children to the neighborhood park several times each week.
“My kids get to play, and I get to talk to other parents or just sit down for a little while,” Linda said. “You start seeing the same people, so it feels like part of the neighborhood.”
People Gathering
Families Near the Playground
I also noticed groups of adults sitting together and talking. They were not playing sports or using the playground. They were simply spending time together. This was important to photograph because it showed that parks are not designed for only one age group. Children, teenagers, adults, and older people can all use the same public space differently.
Looking at both parks showed me how much variety can exist within New York City. Madison Square Park included art, musicians, nature, food,d and people taking breaks from work. The neighborhood park had basketball, playgrounds, families, friends, and groups sitting together. Their environments were different, but both gave people a place to spend their time outside.
Before starting this project, I mainly thought of parks as places where people go to relax or exercise. After photographing these spaces, I realized they have a much bigger role. A park can be a basketball court for one person, a playground for another, and a quiet place to sit for someone else. It can also be a place to experience nature, listen to music, see art, meet friends, or spend time with family.
What makes public parks important is that there is no single correct way to use them. Everyone can enter the same space and find something different. In a city where life can move quickly, parks give people room to slow down, connect with others, and enjoy their surroundings. Together, these everyday moments show why public parks continue to be an important part of life in NYC.
Source List
Marcus: Madison Square Park visitor
Linda Martinez: Scooter park visitor
Photography: All photographs by Emanuel Brandon
