Bronx Park

Bronx Park is a large urban park in the north-central Bronx, New York City, notable for containing two major cultural institutions - the Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Garden. The park covers roughly 718 acres and is bisected by the Bronx River.

Park visitors most often come for the major institutions: the Bronx Zoo, a large metropolitan zoo occupying a substantial portion of the park, and the New York Botanical Garden, a large public garden and research institution. Both sites draw visitors year-round for exhibitions, seasonal displays and educational programming.

Bronx Park was set aside and developed in the late 19th century as part of New York City’s expansion of public green space, and the two major institutions were established there around the turn of the 20th century. Over time the park has functioned as both municipal green space and the campus for large cultural institutions.

Geographically the park sits in the central Bronx, bordered by residential neighborhoods and traversed by the Bronx River; it lies within New York City and is accessible by public transit from Manhattan and other boroughs.

• Size and river: The park covers around 718 acres and is bisected by the Bronx River, hosting large institutional sites within its boundaries.
• Institutional admissions: The Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Garden each have separate admission policies and operate as major attractions inside the park.

What to See #

• Bronx Zoo: A major urban zoo covering approximately 265 acres, opened to the public in 1899 and now one of the largest metropolitan zoos in the United States.
• New York Botanical Garden: A botanical research institution and public garden occupying roughly 250 acres, established in the late 19th century and featuring extensive living collections and specialty gardens.