Canal Park

This is a sweet little park located right at the West Side highway at Canal Street; like all parks in the city, it’s a veritable jungle these days, with all the rain we’ve been getting this year.
I was surprised to find, according to a plaque embedded in the pavement, that it dates back to the 17^th century, when the Dutch still ruled the city.
This park is just a beautiful oasis to chill out in the middle of the day. If you’re lucky enough to live or work close by, you can bring your lunch here and eat in relative peace.
(Interestingly, however, my roommate told me that ten years ago this park was just a «scab on the street» and worse than nondescript; it had fallen into such disrepair that even the bums wouldn’t sleep there!)