New Yorkers are among the fittest adults in the country. According to a 2007 NYC Community Health Survey, most Manhattanites were in the lowest category of obesity, with fewer than 18 percent of adults who were obese. Comparatively, a 2007 Health and Human Services study found that more than 33 percent of adults were obese nationwide. What's the secret to staying fit in New York City? Sports and fitness activities for all ages and tastes are available year-round.
Geography
Central Park is an ideal place to exercise during the day in New York City. Situated centrally on Manhattan Island, Central Park stretches from 110th Street to 59th Street and from Central Park West to Fifth Avenue. No matter where you are staying in New York, you can easily access Central Park by foot, bike, subway, bus or taxi. The park is 843 acres, with a perimeter of six miles and elevations ranging from 16 to 137 feet.
Features
Central Park includes a six-mile route for the walkers, rollerbladers, runners or bikers in your family. If you are visiting New York in the summer and would enjoy a more leisurely activity, you can rent a rowboat and row under Bow Bridge and around the Lake. The yoga classes in Central Park are another peaceful change from New York's fast pace. As of 2010, yoga classes meet during the summer months on Sunday mornings, Sunday afternoons and Tuesday evenings. The North Meadow Recreation Center in the upper park has public handball courts and basketball courts, and the Central Park Tennis Center opens its courts from April to November. If your visit is between November and March, you can ice skate in Central Park's Wollman Rink. Cross country skiing is a favorite sport of New Yorkers when snow covers the park's 58 miles of paths.
Indoor Alternative
New York City has an average of 71 days of rain from April to November, so when planning for things to do during the day, it's a good idea to have alternate indoor plans. The largest indoor sports and entertainment complex in New York is the 28-acre Chelsea Piers on the Hudson River between 17th and 23rd Streets. The facility's Sky Rink offers ice skating Thursday through Tuesday afternoons and the driving range and putting green at the Golf Club at Chelsea Piers are open seven days a week year-round. If you are looking for basketball, batting cages, dance or rock climbing, Chelsea Piers has it. If you have young children, the Little Athletes Exploration Center stresses fun through movement for kids ages 6 months to 4 years. Once you've had your workout, you'll enjoy a massage or other body treatment at the Chelsea Piers Spa.
Misconceptions
If you have never visited New York City, you may have the impression that it is dangerous. Any large metropolitan area warrants awareness of your surroundings, but New York and Central Park can be enjoyed safely anytime during the day. Central Park has 25 million visitors annually. According to the New York Police Department's Central Park Precinct crime statistics, there were a total of 70 crimes during calendar year 2009. Six of the crimes were assaults and the remaining 64 were theft-related. Crime in Central Park was down 80.98 percent between 1990 and 2009.
Expert Insight
In a 2006 interview for Manhattan Living, Stephen A. Siegel, MD, FACC, told Neal Pire, "Running outdoors during the summer in New York can be a drenching experience." Siegel went on to say, "The best outdoor running, perhaps in the world, is in Central Park. The shade of the trees and the frequent water fountains allow for a respite from the heat."
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