NYC’s Smallest Park Is A Pocket-Sized Upper West Side Oasis Tucked Between Two Brownstones — Spanning Just 0.04 Acres

When you think of a New York City park, your mind probably jumps to sprawling great lawns, waterfront strolls, and endless meadows filled with picnickers. But this blink-and-you’ll-miss-it sliver of green on the Upper West Side proves that even the tiniest corner of Manhattan can feel like a full escape. A “park” that could fit inside a brownstone ------------------------------------------- Welcome to Septuagesimo Uno , NYC’s smallest official park — a pocket-sized retreat spanning just 0.04 acres , roughly 1,700 square feet , or the footprint of a single brownstone. You could stroll from one end to the other in under a minute . Hidden behind a tall iron gate at 256 West 71st Street , the park sits tightly sandwiched between two classic UWS buildings, offering the illusion of a private backyard instead of a public green space. If you didn’t know to look for it, you’d walk right past — and many people do. Unlike traffic islands and “Greenstreets” scattered around the city (which may be smaller but aren’t considered actual parks), Septuagesimo Uno holds the official title fair and square. A big story behind this tiny park --------------------------------- The quirky name is half the fun. “Septuagesimo Uno” simply means “Seventy-First” in Latin , a tongue-in-cheek rebrand given in 2000 by former NYC Parks Commissioner Henry Stern, who was known for giving whimsical names to parks across the city. Before that? It was called...the “71st Street Plot.” But its origins stretch back further. Septuagesimo Uno was created in 1969 during Mayor John Lindsay’s Vest Pocket Park initiative , a citywide effort to transform vacant scraps of land into accessible green space. Because of financial struggles in the ’70s, the park sat neglected for years and didn’t officially open until 1981 , after volunteers helped revive what had been a weedy, forgotten lot. A $14,000 restoration in 2000 added new plantings, benches, and the now-iconic “bear claw” gate that gives it that secret-garden feel — and ensures no one climbs over after hours. A secret garden hidden in plain sight ------------------------------------- Despite its tiny footprint, the park is surprisingly atmospheric. A narrow pathway runs the length of the space, lined with shade trees, lush plantings, and a handful of benches that make it a surprisingly romantic hideaway. Because the park is squeezed so closely between residential buildings, it carries the slightly mischievous vibe of stumbling into someone’s backyard — a detail that visitors love and locals playfully refer to as its “private public park” energy. It’s quiet, shady, cinematic — and yes, even famous. The park appears in the 2005 film “Little Manhattan,” where it serves as the backdrop for one of the movie’s sweetest early-teen moments. Fans of the movie still seek it out today like a real-life Easter egg. And because Septuagesimo Uno closes at dusk, catching golden hour inside its narrow corridor of trees almost feels like you’ve unlocked a secret New York experience. 📍 256 W. 71st St., Upper West Side ⏰ Open daily until dusk Source: https://secretnyc.co/new-york-city-smallest-park-septuagesimo-uno/