Socrates Sculpture Park

Set on the East River waterfront, this open-air museum turns a former landfill into a showcase for large-scale contemporary sculpture and multimedia installations. Visitors find plenty of green space for a picnic while watching boats and activity along the shore. The park is quiet and peaceful, with clean bathrooms and lush native foliage framing views of the city. Note that it's difficult to access unless you live in the neighborhood, but worth a visit, perhaps paired with the Noguchi Museum.