3 Scenic Waterfront Trails and Linear Parks to Explore in Late Summer

Late summer in New York brings extended daylight and a need for cooling shoreline breezes. Across the boroughs, former shipyards and rail corridors have been transformed into accessible public spaces. These three waterfront trails and linear parks offer distinct routes for walking and taking in the local landscape without leaving the city.

Located in Brooklyn, Ironworks Park occupies 11 waterfront acres on the site of a former industrial shipyard. The grounds have been converted from their original maritime manufacturing purpose into an open greenspace. The layout retains elements of its repurposed industrial infrastructure, making it a distinct setting for late afternoon walks along the water. Admission is free, and the park is open daily from dawn to dusk.

In Manhattan, the Greenline Botanic Walk provides a continuous elevated pedestrian path. Built on a linear former rail corridor, the route threads seamlessly through three distinct neighborhoods from end to end. The path is lined with diverse late-summer botanical plantings, offering a steady rotation of flora alongside uninterrupted views of the surrounding architecture. Entry to the walk is free.

For a longer distance route, the Harbor Shoreline Trail in Staten Island offers a 5-mile continuous, flat pedestrian and running path. Situated in Great Kills, the trail is bookended by beaches at either terminus. The flat terrain is suited for low-impact distance walking, accompanied by open maritime views, active harbor marinas, and steady breezes off the water.