LandmarkHudson HeightsHudson Heights
Bennett Park
A small, historic park worth a few minutes for the fort outline and the schist outcrop; it is a pause, not a day out.
Fort Washington Ave & W 183rd StFort Washington Ave, W 183rd St & Pinehurst Ave
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What it is
Bennett Park occupies the highest point of land in Manhattan, 265.05 feet above sea level, according to NYC Parks’ historical sign. A large outcropping of Manhattan schist dominates the center of the park. The land was a wooded hill the Delaware Munsee called Penadnik; Dutch settlers called it Long Hill.
Who it’s for
History fans, families with young children (there is a playground), and anyone exploring Hudson Heights on foot. It sits at Fort Washington Ave, W 183rd St, and Pinehurst Ave, NYC Parks says.
Standout details
George Washington based his operations here in 1776. Fort Washington fell to British and Hessian troops on November 16, 1776, in what NYC Parks calls a pivotal defeat for the Americans, and the area later became known as Washington Heights. At the south end of the park, bluestone and granite paving outlines the eastern section of the fort. A 1901 monument by Charles R. Lamb, erected by the Sons of the American Revolution, stands on the eastern perimeter wall. The park is named for newspaper publisher James Gordon Bennett, who bought the land in 1871, and opened in 1929.
Honest verdict
A modest park with real historical weight; the fort outline and the monument are subtle, so it helps to read the NYC Parks history page first. Pair it with Fort Tryon Park, a short walk north, or the Pinehurst Ave cafes.