Rockefeller Park — Attraction in New York

Rockefeller State Park Preserve offers quiet countryside walks of all lengths through forested hills and valleys surrounding sunlit pastoral fields. Thirty miles north of New York City, the property is the former Pocantico Hills and Rockwood Hall country estates of John D. Rockefeller family and William Rockefeller. Since 1983, the Rockefeller Family has generously donated over 1771 acres to the State of New York to safeguard these lands for present and future generations. Managed by New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, the Preserve is open to the public year-round, sunrise to sunset. The trails of the Preserve are crushed stone carriage roads laid out by John D. Rockefeller Sr. and Jr. in the first half of the 20th century. Designed to complement the landscape, the 45 miles of scenic carriage roads are wide and easy to walk. Popular for walking, riding, jogging, and carriage driving, combinations of trails lead through varied landscapes and past natural and historical features, such as Swan Lake, the Pocantico River with its wood and stone bridges, gurgling streams, colonial stone walls and rock outcroppings. Trail maps of the carriage roads are available at the Preserve Office. The Preserve is primarily hardwood forest dominated by huge oak, tulip poplar, maple, and beech trees. The forests, fields, streams, and wetlands support a high diversity of native species of resident and migratory birds, mammals, insects, amphibians, reptiles, fish and aquatic species, some of which are in decline and now uncommon in Westchester County. With 202 recorded species of birds and its Important Bird Area designation by the National Audubon Society, the Preserve is a must-visit area for birders. Over 100 species of native wild bees frequent spring and summer wildflowers. In the fall, Monarch butterflies stop to feed and lay eggs during their southward migration. An on-going environmental stewardship is underway to favor native biological diversity. Rockwood Hall is a distinct bucolic section of the Preserve with commanding views of the Hudson River and Palisade Cliffs. Between 1886 and 1922, William Rockefeller's estate was 1000 acres with a 202-room mansion, a working farm, and a landscape designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, father of American landscape design. While the house and buildings are now gone, massive rock walls around the former house site and extensive grassy fields with magnificent specimen trees harken back to the heyday of the estate during the gilded age. While in the preserve, stop in the Preserve's Gallery by the entrance where rotating exhibits feature contemporary art and natural history exhibits. In the entrance courtyard between the Gallery and Preserve office is the Tree Peony Garden. Please Note: Bicycles, mechanized vehicles, drones, metal detectors, snowmobiling, camping, and open fires are strictly prohibited. Dogs must be...

One sunny afternoon, Old Man Jenkins, the self-proclaimed “King of Rockefeller Park,” set out on his daily walk. He strolled through the lush green paths, greeting the regulars—Mrs. Delaney with her three chihuahuas, Larry the jogger who always tripped over his shoelaces, and the flock of ducks who seemed to follow Jenkins as if he were their leader.

Today, however, Jenkins noticed something unusual: a squirrel was holding court near the park fountain. The little critter had gathered a crowd, stealing sandwiches from picnic-goers and expertly avoiding capture. It zipped through the grass like a furry ninja, diving under benches, dodging frisbees, and somehow, even managing to sneak a sip of Mrs. Delaney's iced coffee without her noticing.

Jenkins watched in awe as the squirrel perched atop the park's stone statue of John D. Rockefeller, holding a stolen bagel as if it were his royal scepter. “That’s one clever rodent,” Jenkins muttered, admiring the animal’s agility.

Determined not to be outsmarted by a squirrel, Jenkins hatched a plan. He gathered a few crumbs from his own sandwich and laid them out, leading toward an open picnic basket like a trail of treasure. The squirrel paused, eyeing the setup suspiciously. Slowly, it crept closer, its little nose twitching.

But just as Jenkins prepared to spring his trap, Larry the jogger, mid-lace-tangle, tripped and crashed straight into the basket, sending sandwiches flying. The squirrel, unfazed, scurried away with half a croissant in its paws.

Jenkins sighed and watched the squirrel disappear into the trees. “Well, it looks like I’ll have to settle for being second in command around here,” he grumbled.

From then on, the squirrel became the unofficial mayor of Rockefeller Park, and Old Man Jenkins tipped his hat to it every afternoon, accepting his role as mere...

An absolutely wonderful place to watch the sunset, have a picnic party with friends, or just relax! However, during my most recent visit (a picnic party with friends), a "BPC Ambassador" came up to me multiple times and continuously pestered me throughout the evening to move my PARKED electric-assist bicycle off the grass. Note, I was not riding it or damaging the grass in any way. I did not have a lock on my bike, so I could not lock it up elsewhere. In fear of having my bike stolen, a sitting duck unlocked in the middle of the path, I moved my bike back onto the grass where I was sitting. The agent continued to trouble me well into the night about the bicycle, dismissed my concerns of it being stolen, and threatened to call the police. The gentleman totally ruined what was supposed to be a fun Friday night with friends. He also gave other lawn-goers a hard time with their bikes as well, and they were also forced to move their bikes onto the pavement, far from where they were sitting. I've been to this place my entire life and have never once had this happen to me. I'm not sure what's changed or if this is some new rule or enforcement that I've never heard about, but it ruins the experience for ANYONE using a bicycle who wants to...