Best sledding hills in NYC

It’s a snow day in New York City. Dress yourself and the kids warmly, and head for these popular sledding hills, including the ones designated by the NYC Dept. of Parks for Snow Day fun, with Park Rangers on hand with hot chocolate, and supervise friendly snowball fights.:

Manhattan

• Central Park – Pilgrim Hill likely is the most popular sledding hill in Manhattan. Follow the crowd to just north of the 72nd St. entrance at Fifth Avenue. When it’s too crowded, and it usually is, other choices are Cedar Hill,  between 76th and 79th Streets just south of the Metropolitan Museum of Art,  and the smaller hill next to the Conservatory Garden, at 106th Street and Fifth Avenue.

• Riverside Park – My kids grew up sledding the hill above what is now called Hippo Playground, at 91st Street.  There’s another option at 103rd Street.

• Inwood Hill Park and Fort Tryon Park – I grew up in Inwood, and these two parks were my backyard in winter and summer. All kinds of sledding hills here, including around The Cloisters.

Brooklyn

• Prospect Park – Follow the crowds to 9th St. and Prospect Park West, or escape them by sledding around the Nethermead.

• Fort Greene Park – A hilly park with lots of choices.

Queens

• Forest Park – The Parks Dept. considers the steep hills of the golf course too dangerous, but that dosn’t stop diehard sledders.  Another option is the Mary Whalen Playground at 79th Street and Park Lane

Bronx

• Van Cortlandt Park and Crotona Park both are hilly with lots of options.

Staten Island

• Clove Lake Park, or Dead Man’s Hill in Silver Lake Park.

Here’s more places to go sledding, from Time Out New York.

Where is your favorite sledding hill in NYC? Comment below, or email me at nyconthecheap@yahoo.com, and we’ll add it to the list.