Any warnings I should heed about jogging in Central Park? Obviously time of day is important - any specific areas within the park?
Thanks.
1 of 2 jjs
Jogging in Central Park
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I wouldn't recommend jogging to late at night, but Central Park (despite the odd crime) is generally the safest police precinct in the entire city. That's not to say that it's crime-free. Stick to the main roads, and you should be fine.
If you stick to the area below 86th Street you will rarely be alone jogging even well after sunset.
Lots of people jog in the Park at all hours of the day and into the evening. As Doug says, stick to the main roads, such as the lower or upper loops or around the reservoir (1.6 mi) and you'll be fine.
Agreed - most places where the roads are flat enough for jogging will be well-traveled enough to be safe. As a rule, if you see a lot of other people around, you'll be fine.
The most popular choice is running laps around the reservoir, which has a nice wide path that is free from car traffic and crossing paths. Here are some other ideas:
http://www.healthylivingnyc.com/photo_article/7
I run in Central Park at least 3x per week, at all hours 7am-9pm. After dark, just stay within sight of other people and you'll enjoy yourself safely.
What many people don;t seem to realize is that much of Central Park is not "Park" pre se - that is big lawns with flowers and trimmed shrubs. Much of it is more or less wilderness (we have all sorts of wildlife including coyotes - and it's part of the eastern flyway for migrating birds).
So - there are a lot of areas that are fairly heavily wooded and can be deserted.
As long as you stick to main paths you will see joggers from 6am to well past dark and should be fine. Just don;t wander off into the wooded areas.
(I bike in the park often - until 9 or 10 pm and up to 96th St - and have had no problems at all.)
If you go to the Central Park conservancy web site you will see tons of info - as well as maps of major paths.