NYC/Central Park: How late is too late for a walk in the park?
 

Putting safety first, do folks think it is too late to walk through Central Park (group of 4 gals ranging in age from 30-80) after 8 pm (given how dark it gets this time of year). We were considering a carriage ride, but I've read that $34 for 20 minutes doesn't allow you to see much or request where you go in the park. I'm thinking we'll skip it, but I don't want to go at night if folks don't recommend it.

Thanks-
Kellie

I'm just wondering why you want to walk through Central Park in the dark or late at night?

It doesn't get any darker this time of year - just much earlier...

Oh, that's what I meant -- dark earlier. Not darker.

I'm imagining it is fun to see the rink and other things at night. But, then again, maybe I'm wrong. . .

Walking to and from Wollman Rink is ok, the path is well lit and LOTS of people are around, so that should be fine, but DON'T walk around the park at night, no it really is not safe, in areas where there are few people and not well lit.

The carriage ride is quite nice, and you will see quite a bit of the park.

I've been in the city for many years now & I don't think I've ever been in the park after 8:00 pm, except for a few summers when they do free activities like Concert in the Park, Opera in the Park etc. I'd advise you to go earlier as it starts getting dark by 5:00 pm these days. It is true that the path to Wollman rink is well lit & it's not bad in that area of the park. I use the subway at all times of the night but not the park.

I agree with the previous posters. It is fine to walk straight into Wollman Rink and back or to the Boathouse Cafe and back, but I wouldn't take a leisurely walk around Central Park after 8 pm, especially if you don't know your way around. The paths wind through the park and it can be quite confusing even in the daylight.

I'd either go earlier, take the carriage ride or skip it.

I think you'll find that at 8pm, the paths on the east side of the park are pretty busy all the way up to the zoo, which is somewhat beyond Wollman Rink. You may be surprised at the number of people in the park as long as the weather is nice, and if you are a group, you'll be fine. The park is not nearly as dangerous after dark as many people believe. It is, quite literally, now the safest part of all of NYC. Just use common sense, and when the crowds thin out, turn around.

Central Park is BIG. As previously stated, parts of it are perfectly safe in the evening hours.

Just stick to the lighted areas where you see other people, south of the Reservoir.

Except for some obvious places (Wollman rink, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Tavern on the Green, and a few others) I can't figure out what you'd do in Central Park at dark?

It isn't that it is dangerous, it is that it is dark. You can't see anything except where the streetlights have the park lit.

The park is perfectly safe – until it isn’t. I wouldn’t advise 4 female tourists to wander around there in the dark. Please do stick to the high traffic areas that have been mentioned and do not go in any direction where there aren’t a lot of people, no matter how short the path looks. It is a safe city but there is no reason to take silly risks. Enjoy your trip!

Basically I'm trying to figure out what sites we can see Sunday evening after dinner. . . I was going to save a walk through Central Park for Tuesday am, but I'm worried about a time crunch and possibly wanting to pop into a museum before we head to LGA.

Anyway, my original thought was a walk starting at Strawberry Fields to Bethesda Terrace and Fountain, down to Wollman Rink and then head out. Is the area around Bethesda Terrace and Fountain lit at night?

I think that we'd try to get back there during the day, too. (I'd spend most of my time in Central Park, if I could!)

Exactly - unless you're going to a specific place in the Park to do something it doesn;t make a lot of sense to walk there at night. (Jogging or biking for exercise is different - but then you need to know your route and stick to the lit roadways or major paths.)

I don;t know what you're imaging - but Central Park is not a flower garden, it's an enormous park, much of it heavily wooded with hills, large boulders and minimal lighting in a lot of places. And this time of year there are no flowers, trees are bare and grass is brown and crunchy. After dark you would need a fllashlight in a lot of places to see anything.

Why not simply go during the daytime?

As for the carriage ride - you still won;t see much after dark (this is for the romantic who want solitude and dark) and the carriages arre limited by law to the few roads in the park - can;t go on any of the pedestrain only pathways.

If you're coming over the holidays, one idea for "Sunday after dinner" is to do one of the bus tours of the holiday lights. NYpartyshuttle.com has a holiday lights tour that leaves at 7 pm. I can think of NO good reason to attempt to "see" Central Park at night during the winter.

Another option for after dinner is window shopping along 5th Ave. It is lovely at night and there will be lots of people out and about.

Walking around Central Park can be quite confusing! So i would be very careful at night! I remember once I was trying to cross from the West to the East side and after walking for quite a while, it turned out I had just circled back to where I started.

Ok, I'm starting to rethink my brilliant idea. Will do carriage ride in park and then daytime walking if we didn't see enough of the park. I certainly don't need my father screaming at me on Christmas that I got my mother, gram, and sister lost in Central Park at night! LOL!

What about the park Before Dinner? Nice way to work up an appetite.

Park is beautiful in daylight. Tavern on the green is very pretty at night. After that.....it is not wise to venture in and around that park at night...just like in any other big city park!
John

Before dinner would have to be pretty early - these days it's dark (nightime, not evening dark) by five o'clock

Couldn't do prior to dinner, really. We won't get out of Mary Poppins until close to 6 pm. Likely we won't be eating until 8 pmish and I'm planning to head to Chelsea to get dinner at Tia Pol. I have a feeling everyone is just going to be wiped out that night anyway and we'll be ready to call it a day after dinner.

Given the weather forecast (nice on Monday, not as nice on Tuesday), I'm thinking we'll try to get to the park on Monday morning/afternoon and maybe pop into the Met on Tuesday if the weather is less than kind.

Got dinner reservations for Monday at ViceVersa! Didn't think that would happen! Also. . . . our hotel room rate dropped by nearly $100!!!!!! Hope this is all foreshadowing of a wonderful trip!

Brace yourself for a two hour wait at Tia Pol if there are four of you, especially if you go Wed - Sun nights.