Riverbank State Park

Wow, such a gem! We went for the indoor pool especially since I had seniors in my group, the place was clean, not a lot of people and there’s free parking underneath the west side highway courtesy of the park. Just ask for a permit at the entrance where bus comes in . Also , once u park you go up the staircases that would lead uou to the entrance up top. Can’t wait to come back !! **If u bring a lock , you don’t have to pay extra.

Wonderful views of New Jersey and the Hudson River, a great outdoor track, a great rink for ice skating in the winter and roller skating in the summer, and a great Latin restaurant Sofrito. I only wish the Amphitheatre was active and used as it seems like a great space.

This one is a little tough it's a place for people to rejoice having a good time with their loved ones, but there are too many people and not enough security. The line too gett in is very unruly, and people's manners are at an all-time low. Once inside, good luck trying to find a seat to change your your skates, and the food line is too unruly and don't even think about sitting down to eat their are no available seats and the same guards that's supposed to be keeping the peace are actually sitting down in the actual seats for the people who buy food total insanity. These kids now in days have no respect for anyone noy even their elders, so good luck on maneuvering through this insane place but the kids like it so I leave it at that.

I stumbled upon this park in Harlem and was pleasantly surprised. It’s a serene elevated waterfront park with spectacular views of the Hudson River. Lots of seating/places to relax and unwind, barbecue/picnic areas and sporting facilities. Ideal for sunset lovers ❤️❤️❤️

One of my favorite parks! The track is great for runs, and the basketball courts are clutch as well. The restaurant on the park is delicious & the walking path by the water (take the stairs to the lower level of the park) is beautiful.

Very nice public park with newly repaved tracks. You can get a great view of News Jersey over the Hudson River. There's also indoor and outdoor basketball courts, swimming pools and ice rink. Highly recommended.

Awesome park. And there is a restaurant named Sofrito as soon as you walk in @ 145st. Large track to run and playground areas for big and small kids

This place is a gem. My main interest is the Olympic swimming pool. The staff is wonderful! It is a great place for seniors. All the senior activities occur before 12 noon. Riverbank Park offers free classes to seniors in Quilt making, drawing, piano keyboard, chess and dance. The Park area is beautiful. No bicycle or dogs are allowed in the park vicinity. It is a great place for fall, winter and spring. During the summer it is very busy. Riverbank also has a wonderful skating rink, and has a professional figure skating and Hockey Team. It has a 2,500 seat auditorium an outdoor tennis court (free lessons for adults) and a huge football track. There is a year round restaurant, "Sofrito" and a snack bar near the skating rink. There is also a football field with a track field included. The Danny Ferrell Park is run by the state and they are doing an excellent job!

Riverbank State Park is absolutely wonderful! I love spending time here because the views are breathtaking and incredibly scenic, whether you're overlooking the Hudson River or taking in the Manhattan skyline. The park is always well-maintained and clean, which makes it such a pleasant place to visit. There are so many activities to enjoy, from the swimming pool to the sports facilities, plus areas for relaxing or picnicking. It's the perfect spot for a day out, whether you're looking to unwind or stay active! Highly recommend!

I honestly think this is a very underrated park in NYC. I get it can be out of the way for people, but I kinda like it's a local-secret. practically hiding in plain sight. Sure, it might not have the budget of Central Park, but there's still activities like an outdoor track, soccer field, basketball courts and indoor facilities. During the summer, there's a lot of grassy areas and it's kinda nice seeing people just hanging out and having BBQ. It also has nice views of the water, too! Personally, I prefer this for ice skating and roller skating. The rink is a decent size and overall it's just less crowded - so you can actually move around. it's cheaper too. One critique is the website can be somewhat outdated with up to date information.

Great place to swim (indoor and outdoor pool) and other activities. Clean and affordable. Accessible via bus and # 1 train line.

The views are superb here. The mood is just right. There are just some things, however, that are hard to overlook like: the location's history, the untoward smell that hangs in the air as a result and that knowing all of this just makes me question how healthy this all is. But if you can disregard all of that, there are many useful athletic facilities in this area: track, baseball field, concession stand, a restaurant, ice/roller skating rink, numerous stairs to climb and space to walk in. It is worth a mention that the restroom facilities are some of the best maintained for a public park. There is plenty of events programming if you take a look at their website as well. However, it's best to go in person for best efficiency. It is a spot worth checking out and there are plenty of things to do in the parks and green spaces immediately leading to Riverbank. This is absolutely a place to pass the day, all things considered.

I moved to NYC recently, and Riverbank State Park has quickly become one of my favorite spots to enjoy exercise and de-stress. Sitting on the Hudson River, the park offers stunning views of the George Washington Bridge and high rises on the NJ side of the river. The park offers a variety of outdoor fields and courts for sports (running track, football/soccer field, basketball courts, tennis courts, racquetball/handball courts, and baseball fields to name a few). Additionally, the park has a covered skating rink that offers roller skating in the warmer months and ice skating in the winter (skates are available for rent). I haven't seen it used, but there is also an outdoor amphitheater as well. Riverbank State Park also has an indoor recreation center that's available for use if you buy a pass--I go to the gym nearly every day and enjoy a variety of weight and cardio machines. There are also indoor basketball courts and a cultural center at the indoor facilities as well. The staff has always been very friendly to me. I'd highly recommend that you check out this park!

Lovely views and tons of places to do whatever activity you like! Courts: basketball, tennis, and more. A whole track and field. Indoor swimming. Lots of grass for picnics.

I went to this park for my job, and I was initially impressed with the view and other facilities available to the public. But what makes this a 3-star review pushing 2 stars is the lack of accountability and security measures. The female supervisor, as well as all other female staff and two of the young men from the weekend security, were very kind and professional. I observed them transition the space seamlessly. The other staff were either rude, sitting around on the phone, eating or going from office to office. There was a snack bar serving friend snacks and such. I didn't yry anything nut the staff there was friendly. I was there for multiple days, and there were serious issues with perverts walking around the premises trying to gain access to areas where children were getting dressed and hanging around the courtyard at nightfall. Despite multiple complaints, nothing was done, leaving other patrons to deal with this unsavory element.

This is the opera West side, biggest well kept secret. Shhh! Don't tell anyone. Seriously it's the pool. There's such a short supply in the city. They have an Olympic size pool. It only cost two dollars to use per visit. And you usually only have to share a lane with one person during certain hours. Other amenities as well, but I only use the pool so far. Looking forward to exploring further when the weather gets nice.

I love this park. I grew up not too far from the parks entrance on 145th and Broadway, and recently relocated back to the same area. I have a new found love for this park, especially now having a 3 year old daughter who loves the outdoors. The view of the GW bridge never gets old. The park is kept very clean, and filled with old well kept pine trees. We collect pinecones, go to the lower level and watch the waves crash against the large rocks. Watch boats and occasionally feed the seagulls. During the height of quarantine, this one was a breath of fresh air, it was easy to get air, social distance and still have a fun outing. Now that the parks restaurant ( sofrito ) has a outdoor stand where I can grab something quick to eat/ drink; it enhanced my already great experience. This park does not allow bikes or pets, another perk.

Beautiful, long spanning park with many activities and A great view of the Hudson river. In the winter, you can come and Ice skate for probably the cheapest price you'll find in Manhattan. Five dollars to skate and six dollars to rent Ice skates. In the summer I believe, you can rollerblade in the same place. In this park, there's also a gym that is used for recreational basketball and volleyball. There are specific days and time designated for these activities, same thing for ice-skating, so be sure to call before going. On the outside, there is a full-size track. There's also a football field with the goalpost and everything. Adjacent to this are tennis courts and handball courts. This park is just really great for any type of sport. People in the neighborhood should really utilize it! Also, be sure the check out the community garden here!

The Riverbank pools are my favorite NYC pools! The fact that there are two pools, indoor and outdoor, is always a plus. I decided to go during the middle of the week on a hot cloudy day-- which was awesome because the pools were practically completely empty! I went with my godson, best friend, and niece... we had a blast! Everything went smoothly; we got our tickets which was only a total of $5 for our group of 4. The showers/lockers are clean and there's always a staff member supervising. The pool waters were also very clean and not too cold-- super refreshing! At first the kiddie pool was closed but since my godson kept wanting to go inside the closed gates, one of the lifeguards was kind enough to open it for us... Time flies when you're having fun! We were there from 10am-2pm. The only thing I would say is: be prepared to struggle looking for parking in the area + expect to walk a bit from the entrance of the park to the entrance of the pool.

I walked by this place by chance a few weeks ago, and was impressed by what it has to offer. I didn't even know about it (I don't live in the area). The place is huge. There's a theatre, an athletic facility with a running track, soccer/football field and fitness center, tennis courts, a baseball field, basketball as well as handball courts, an olympic-size pool, playgrounds for the little ones and a skating rink that works both in the winter (ice-skating) and in the summer (roller blading). Wow. With such variety of activities, no wonder why this place is popular. In addition, the views of the Hudson River, the George Washington Bridge and the Palisades in NJ are quite something. I wish I lived close enough to be able to enjoy this place more.

This park is a hidden gem in Manhattan... The beautiful scenery, the excellent indoor & outdoor pool for pennies literally to access. Very clean, accessible transportation. They have indoor skating rink & ice skating in the winter. Carousel ride for a 1.00 to ride... A little reminiscent to me of Rye NY park without the travel. Or a better than central park experience without the price. My 6 year old daughter & I had a remarkable time, she called it one of the best days ever We'll be bck again & again!!!

**Review of pool during Covid-19** We went on a suggestion from a friend who had taken her kids to the pool the week before. She said that it was not crowded when they went. That was not our experience. I had read that NYC pools were limiting capacity to 25%. However, there must have been 40-50 ppl there. Kids were bumping into one another and there really was no way to keep a safe distance from others. In addition, masks are supposed to be worn on line and when not in the pool, but I saw many people without masks. I am glad that the pools are open for those that need somewhere to cool off, but for me, it's just not worth the risk.

Beautiful park, with beautiful views, and so many activities to do here. This day the hubby and I decided to come for a quick picnic because I had heard so many things about this park. We did not leave disappointed. We found out that they have a pool, roller skating rink, carousel, so many places to do a BBQ, hang out near the water, even an on-site restaurant and they were live up in there, also they have plenty of parking, $15 bucks for the whole day. We past, and decided to park on the street. Wasn't to bad finding parking either, It was such a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Now my hubby wants to return with the kids and explore some more fun with them. I say this here is a place to take some time and enjoy the view.

The pool staff, in this case the higher ups, have absolutely no consideration for the swimmers that rely on the pool for fitness. They straight up change their schedules with no reason whatsoever. When pressured, the lifeguards say it's to accommodate more people coming into the pool when it's warm. But that's already obvious, but the pool already set up a schedule to make it fair for swimmers to have their own space to swim while having recreational swimming before they change it to only recreational swimming for the summer. Notice I say only recreational swimming because lap swimmers like myself are screwed in the summer, and believe me, even the city is no help either. City or State owned pools straight up abandon us when the summer hits, because they don't know how to hire more lifeguards. The state website hasn't even updated the changes in the schedule, and this affects those who wish to swim in the weekend. No one knows what's going on until we get there, by then it's too late. Why can't recreational swimmers wait til after 6/23? It appears they get first priority anyway. It's funny that the changes were made around May and lifeguards say it's because when it gets too warm, they want to swim. Last time I checked May wasn't that warm for the whole month, there were some outliers but it was still cool because most people were walking around in jackets!! Kids and families will always have space to play in the water year round, but for those who rely on swimming for fitness, we're ignored 1/4 of the year.

Adult open soccer on Tue and Thur nights is not inclusive and very cliquey. Had a terrible experience where I was not allowed to play much. Currently, all the players come with a whole team of 5, so new people, let's say two of us, won't have a team to play on.And because it's winner stays, some teams get to play for a really long time. There's also no one to keep track of the time officially, so we ended up playing around a total of 15 minutes during the 2 hours. I would suggest that as people enter the gym, the organizers should group people into teams of 5 and divide them evenly between the 3 fields. This way, everyone that comes will have a team to play on, even newbies. And the fields would be evenly divided with players instead of having some fields with lots of players and one with no one waiting. Then, I would have an official timer to keep track of time, and all the teams would rotate by time, not by who wins. When we were there, we saw players fighting over play time, and even changing the rules in order to reduce other people's play time.

I visited this park a few times in the past but mostly for the indoor pool. I was taking private swimming lessons and used this pool. The pool was clean and not too crowded since we got there at the beginning of the time slot for recreational swimming. They also had a separate time for just lap swimming. There were a few times I had walked around the track or just sat and watch other people work out. I saw a few boot camp like led exercise groups. They have several places for you to sit by the water and enjoy the gorgeous Hudson water views. I am not sure if the park is open at night but it would be great to see these views at night with all of our city's lights reflecting on the water. I LOVE the surrounding neighborhood near the park. I would love to live in one of those buildings on the top floor facing the park, ahhh what a site to look out your window and see such beauty.

River Bank State Park is built on sewage waste! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riverbank_State_Park It was built over the North River Waste water treatment Plant. And you can still smell it! The people of Harlem didn't want it to be built for obvious reasons and protested so the city had to give them a pool and Carousel to get them to agree. And today is the 20th anniversary of the park! Most newcomers to the area have no idea it was built on a sewage treatment plant and highly protested by the neighborhoods original residents. http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20110721/harlem/what-sewage-treatment-plant-many-riverbank-state-parkgoers-unaware-of-facility West Harlem Environmental Action or WE ACT, a grassroots environmental group based in Harlem, won a $1.1 million settlement against New York City for it's massive North River Sewer Treatment Plant. The massive treatment plant covers some eight blocks. A $130 million state-of-the-art state park, Riverbank State Park, was built on top of the sewer treatment plant. The one-of-a-kind in the U.S. Riverbank State Park has fantastic facilities. The problem is it sits on top of a sewer treatment plant. Pollution from the plant caused much concern for the residents and WE ACT members.http://nat ionalhumanitiescenter.org/tserve/nattrans/ntuseland/essays/envjust.htm River Bank is a state park.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_park So now you know the reason it is not 5 stars. The park offers free Wi Fi http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20110119/harlem/riverbank-state-park-offers-free-wifi-shrink-digital-divide Here are the other amenities in the park. Food (Accessible) [Gymnasium] Gymnasium (Accessible) [Ice Skating] Ice Skating (Accessible) [Performing Arts Center] Performing Arts Center (Accessible) [Picnic Tables] Picnic Tables (Accessible) [Playgrounds] Playgrounds (Accessible) [Playing Fields] Playing Fields (Accessible) [Pool] Pool (Accessible) [Recreation Programs] Recreation Programs (Accessible) [Showers] Showers (Accessible) [Tennis] Tennis It is nice if you are a resident and especially for children with all of the activities. Today is was raining and many but not all of the festivities were canceled for the 20th anniversary celebration. A conversation me and my hubby over heard in the park "The reason my hormones are raging is the cotton candy guy didn't show up!" No cotton candy guy, no Carousal, it's too bad the Carousal looks unique and amazing! http://www.timeout.com/new-york-kids/attractions/totally-kid-carousel I did not see any tourists and that could be due to the weather but the activities for now look like they are for the locals and they do need this. The 5 star rating system is neither useful funny or cool so I do not have a way to accurately rate this park. For the amenities, for the neighborhood it is unmatched. But it is not really a park to spend the day if you do not live in the neighborhood. And the smell of poo is not conducive to relaxation and fun for me! I am just giving it 4 stars for now. But I think it is great for local residents as an alternative to what was there! It is awesome how they cleaned it up! There are no bikes allowed in the park and that is a big plus for me! All of the transplants who move here do not know how to ride properly in a crowded city and they tend to crash into people and ring their little hillbilly cow bells and expect you to move out of their way! But none of that here! No bikes and mainly New Yorkers enjoying the park. For me though the smell of poo is not really my idea of a nice day in the park!

Riverbank is the best athletic deal in the city. 50 meter swim pool indoors, 25 meter outdoors, skating rink, weights, basketball & tennis courts, track, football/soccer field, classes for all ages from 2 to seniors. Admission can run as high as $3 per day. But don't tell anyone about it. It might get crowded. Update: if you're driving, park on Riverside or near Broadway, where ppl are. Do NOT park on 12th Ave under the overpass. My car was broken into there the other day. Some junkie smashed in rear window, grabbed my gym bag, as if used workout clothes, heart rate monitor & a cpl pair prescription Oakleys are gonna do a worthless crack addict any good.

Great place. Excellent for a weekend getaway. Location does not sell bottled water. Can be crowded on the weekends. A smokers paradise. Would definitely recommend to friends and family.

A hidden gem in the Hamilton Heights neighborhood. I'm knocking it to 4 stars only because the track isn't maintained in the winter. Also, the bathrooms: emergencies yes, otherwise avoid. But that's pretty standard for a rec center. I'm a runner, so I typically utilize the track area. It can get a little crowded depending on the weather & day. But, I find it kind of fun to dodge flying soccer balls & children while I'm running. It's like a video game. Running in a giant circle is a lot more exciting that way! There's also plenty of space around the park in general, so you can run & get a great view of the river if you wish. Pools, gyms, picnic areas, skating rinks in the winter... and no (or at least, few) tourists! So happy to have you, Riverbank!

Love this place. I remember coming here with my super Dominican parents as a kid (because they wanted to go to a park closer to "their people" haha) and loving it then too. Obviously for different reasons. The view here is gorgeous. I seriously can't remember the last time I took so many pictures. (Brooklyn Bridge Park you will forever be my #1 baby!) As a recent neighborhood transplant I love that I can come here and spend the entire day reading a book, or watching cute kids enjoy their childhood. The weekends can get a bit loud with local teens playing music, but they are pretty respectful if you don't mind the public twerk fest. The only reason it loses a star is because every once in a while there is a slight odor wafting through the air. Open early, closes pretty late. If you're in the neighborhood looking for a convenient escape I would mosey on over!

This review is being done considering all the circumstances of my experience. We came to enjoy the pool at this park. We waited for over an hour and a half. There is no security here. Mostly teenage kids and their hormones. They were mostly rude and it made the visit extremely uncomfortable. There was a sesame place event here but I seen no one (state police) ever walking around the park. We could smell marijuana. Not even park staff was in sight. No supervision by anyone. People cut the line and staff let them. The price is nothing compared to the waiting experience on the outside. Kids pushing, shoving, humping cursing. Just outright nasty. When getting into the pool they were so out of control. I've never seen anything like it. I am not returning here ever. Not for the pool part at least. Parents beware.

Flat beautiful field turf. Came over to play for a softball team that needed extra guys. This field was one of the most beautiful fields ever, located in a very gorgeous park filled with lit basketball courts, and track. The baseball field was also lit so we were able to play at 9pm. If you were to roll a ball from the outfield to the catcher, it would roll without any stops and roll straight ! No bad bounces either. I don't know what else you can ask for. Great park!

This is a great park that is within walking distance of Hamilton Heights! When my husband lived there, we would walk here a couple times each summer just to hang out, get some exercise, play catch, or watch people playing pickup games. It's almost like a hidden oasis, with some great facilities and amazing views once you cross over the bridge into the actual park. You would never expect that it was built above a waste treatment plant, amirite? Families having picnics and birthday parties, amazing views of the George Washington Bridge, Jersey, and Midtown ... it's definitely worth a visit. And remember when the space shuttle Enterprise took its final flight over the Hudson River? This is where I watched it happen! The track/football field area is pretty great, and huge. We also saw facilities for basketball, softball, a skating rink, a fitness area, an indoor gym, and even a community center. There's a lot going on, and it's a fantastic place to bring your kids.

Beautiful place to relax, I will recommend anyone to come and visit, there's many places to eat on picnic tables. And the view over the hudson river is amazing!

Fantastic SP located above the Hudson River , indoor and outdoor activities are plentiful. Track and field area is in great condition, basketball and tennis sweet!

***REVIEW FOR POOL*** Ever since I heard its fame whispered amongst swimmers during the summer, the pool of the Riverbank State Park was like the Holy Grail for me. Unfortunately last July, the infamous sewage plant fire and explosion of 2011 shut the entire park down during the prime of the season. The new swim schedule was posted in early fall (http://nysparks.com/parks/attachments/RiverbankAquaticsComplexSchedule9-29-11through6-27-12.pdf), but I could never find the right time to go. I did, however, call 212-694-3664/3665/3666 several times. During one of these phone calls, I found out that the lanes are only open at the pool's full length of 50 meters during the time slot that starts at 6:30 am. However, this time slot is available seven days a week, until 8:15 am on weekdays and 8:30 am on weekends. Still, weekdays were too difficult. Especially after I moved out to Far Rockaway, the idea of getting up in the dark at 4:30 am to try my luck with the sporadic nighttime trains was just too much. On weekends, I was always away or doing anything other than getting up at the crack of dawn to travel twice the length of time I would actually be able to swim. My day finally came this morning after sleeping over at a friend's house in Upper West. I forced myself up at 6:06 am. From 86th and CPW, it took me until 7:00 am to reach the facility, which speaks volumes about its accessibility (or lack thereof). Even on a basic map, the park looks as remote as it seems pleasant. Sure enough, the only way to get there is to walk Westwards to the nearest 1 train, and board the local engine that couldn't up to 137th-City College. From there you hang a left towards the Hudson and walk down an incongruously San Franciscan hill for the last block before the West Side Highway. Take care not to miss the set of steep, crooked granite steps up to an overpass. Otherwise, you'll end up by the train tracks...and I mean TRAIN tracks, not the subway line, situated on the same forlorn strip of land that the young, pre-corrupt Robert Moses walked along when dreaming of ways to improve the infrastructure and architecture of the city. There's a gate at the mouth of the overpass to confirm that you are in fact on the right path. Upon crossing the pedestrian bridge, you are rewarded by what is a psychedelic hallucination compared to the rest of New York. Again, the comparison of San Francisco (in particular, SFSU) springs to mind...even on a dreary morning, the basketball field gleamed green and the red track popped out from the lush lawns where low-flying geese landed to squawk ominously at me. Joggers from god-knows-where (or, ok, Columbia) occasionally flit by; the image of health and wholesomeness. There are several buildings in this $100 million park, so make sure you hang a left on the path immediately after Simpsons-like sewage plant chimney and the basketball courts. Or, overshoot by about half a mile and get a good view of a pristine and completely empty ice rink before cursing twice and doubling back. A box-office is at the entrance, to take your $3 in cash for admissions. Thank god they have change. The lockers are rusty at the edges and often lack locking pads, so make sure before you pile all your winter shit in it. It's a good thing that my friend had outfitted me with a bottle of water at her place, because I almost ralphed when I got a mouthful of iron (aka rust) infused water from the bubble. One side of the bathroom was closed for repairs, but the other side was clean, save for a few early flies buzzing around and even a juvenile cockroach standing vigil on the sanitary disposal tin. The sinks were also clean looking, but you had to basically masturbate the motion sensors in order to get a steady stream of water. The showers were like snowflakes; not one operated the same way. I walked into about four of them (too weak, not working, no knob, freezing cold) before finding one that was wastefully running. Meanwhile, a lady whispered that the handicapped stall was warm, and that it was "great." As she started having her great hot shower, mine got a little cooler. It's a lot easier to sum up the pool itself. Aside from the fact that you can't rest anything (flip flops, towel, water) on the grating at the perimeter, it's awesome. It has the cleanliness but not the austerity of the Asphalt Green facility, and the modernity but not the raucous crowding of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. It's silent because the water's so large that you can't hear the splashing. The windows of the hangar-sized space present one giant uninterrupted view of the Hudson River and the daylight. The whole thing is a uniform 4 feet deep so it's bright everywhere from both natural and overhead lighting. There's so much space that even if you do share a lane, you feel very alone. It is an unparalleled indoor swimming experience, not just here but anywhere. Too bad it's 45 minutes or more from everywhere!

Let me be the first Yelper to sing the praises of Riverbank State Park! An extraordinary complex of fields, gyms, pools and other facilities, this park was built to appease the residents of Harlem and Washington Heights who were understandably angered by the sewage treatment plant being dumped in their neighborhood. But let's face it, we make a lot of raw sewage around here, so better to have it treated than not! And better to make such a huge Stink that the state caves and makes a fantastic sports facility right on the beautiful Hudson River for us to play in! I moved to Sugar Hill Harlem seven years ago, when it was still so unpopular and white people so rare that I won the nickname "Snowflake" from neighbors. As a musician with limited funds, I was happy to have nabbed a great, cheap apartment up here. Then quality of life was upped once more when I discovered Riverbank State Park. Riverbank is the only park of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. Inspired by urban rooftop designs in Japan. 28-acres of multilevel landscaped recreational facility irises 69 feet above the Hudson River, this place has everything including a free summer concert series focusing on jazz, Latin and Harlem still vibes that takes place in the 400-seat outdoor amphitheater. Here's what's there: an Olympic sized pool, a covered skating rink for roller skating in the summer and skating in the winter, an 800-seat cultural theater, a 2,500-seat athletic complex with fitness room, and a 150-seat restaurant. Outdoor sports amenities include a 25-yard lap pool which is my favorite: At 7:30 AM on a hot summer morning, it's magical to go there. I am the only person in the pool, being watched over by a totally built Dominican lifeguard. Oh yeah. There's also a wading pool, four tennis courts, four basketball courts, a softball field, four hand and paddle ball courts, and a 400-meter 8-lane running track with a football and soccer field. I am a habitue of the Fitness Room. At $50 / three months, or $188 for the whole year (!) you get everything Bally's offers equipment-wise at a fourth of the price. Plus, you get a totally ripped, smiley Dominican guy named Caesar (or one of his compatriots) who smiles shyly at you and offers you to be your personal trainer! The Fitness room is frequented by both men and women, including lots of really built men, and a lot of women who are trying to run off that extra weight. The Cybex machines are all in good shape except for the occasional breakdown which then seems to take forever to fix. I never go at prime hours (days during the weekend), but the rest of the time I have not ever had to wait for a machine. This is one of the best deals in New York!

When I first started swimming the Olympic size pool at Riverbank State Park I remember thinking I would never be able to make it across without stopping. It seemed like the longest pool in the world. That was over four years ago but this morning, as I swam back and forth not stopping once I remembered how far the journey used to feel. The sports complex on Riverside is filled with opportunities to have successful journeys no matter what your destination. Each Saturday as I swim there are people running the track, lifting weights and dancing. In the winter there is a hockey team that practices at the crack of dawn always blasting 80's hair band music and in the summer it is jr. football teams preparing for their fall games. No matter the time of year New Yorkers are at the park and it is the collection of regular people that makes this complex a community. It is a state facility that does not distract you with the accessories of a Manhattan gym. The changing rooms are industrial there is no cable television or towel service. What it does have is the best quality any sports complex can ask for, ambiance. The energy that is generated by groups of people all moving to their own sport creates the desire to keep going, or in my case helps me to sustain the desire to keep going. In the pool we have everyone from pros to others who are working on their fear of putting their head under water. On the track there are elite runners and senior citizens. At the rink I've seen future NHL stars and weekend warriors. Riverbank State Park is a place where anyone can come and generate the euphoria that accompanies completing a workout, race or practice. It is where I have achieved the effortless lap.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this facility. I've been to the pool but this is mainly about the ice skating rink. Is this rink perfect? No. But I'm still giving it five full stars. I love that I can go for a skate at a semi-outdoor respectably-sized rink with neighborhood folks --very few tourists--without lining Trump's pockets. I went to Riverbank with my 6 year old nephew and a friend this weekend. The four of us (2 adults, 2 kids, all renting skates) skated for $40 bucks. They cordon off the southern end of the rink for beginners only which was great for our youngsters. Some important tips: TIP #1 if you're coming points south, there is an entrance at 138 that gets you to the rink (and the pool and soccer fields) much faster than the 147th entrance. You'll save yourself a good 10 minutes walk by coming in from the south. TIP #2 KIDS under 10 need to wear a HELMET. For some reason we weren't told this when we borrowed two pairs of size 1 skates and found out when we were all laced up and on the ice. We had to get off the ice and get back on line to borrow helmets. If your kid has a helmet, bring it because they don't have an unlimited supply. Many pros: Semi-outdoors makes for a nice skating experience. You can get pretty hot skating and the fresh air is amazing. It's right by the river with views of the GWB and the grounds are lovely, especially after a snow. They rent hockey skates for grownups! Kid rentals are figure skates. Lockers are free. (At least they are today in in Feb 2015.) There is a locker attendant who walks around with tokens to feed your locker. We met so many nice people--kids mostly--who offered skating tips to my youngsters. Adorable!! Depsite my 5 starts, i do have one con: PLEASE OPEN ANOTHER DOOR FOR EXITING the ice. There is one narrow door to exit /enter the ice. It would be really smart to have one door to enter ice and another to leave. I'm sure the shared door has something to do with having enough staff, but I think that the entrances would be safer and easier to manage if we weren't fighting against two way traffic getting on and off. This place is the bomb and I feel very lucky to have it in my neighborhood.

The first time I journeyed to Riverbank it was to play soccer with my Zogsports team. I thought it looked like field of dreams. HUGE, flat, perfectly green, glorious looking turf fields. A well maintained rubber track encircles the fields, and there seems to always be a surprising amount of runners going round and round. There is a complex adjacent to the fields that I think offers recreation for inter-city kids. Hooray public service! In any event, the soccer fields are great, but I deduct one star because it is an odyssey to trek up here. Seriously, getting on the 1 at Canal and sitting on the subway for an hour creates a barrage of weird characters and strange encounters.

-- Outdoor track: well-maintained, well-marked, usually not too crowded. -- Indoor pool: huge, clean, with decent lap hours -- Gymnasium: suh-weet. -- Workout room (2nd floor): stocked with the basics, but could stand some modernizing and variety, particularly for women. -- Perks: incredible views of GWB, nice grassy areas for picnicking, outdoor tennis courts and bball courts, indoor/outdoor ice rink.

Manhattan Park Win. I never even really heard of this place, save for passing it on the West Side Highway, but I discovered it in my search for a place to go roller skating in New York City. Staten Island had a place...but...no. Riverbank State Park is incredibly convenient. It's only about a block from the 1 train, and the Bx19 can make that one block trip for you if you are so inclined. Went on a Monday--the roller rink was clean and large, though empty. It was cheap, also. $1.50 for admission, with a $6.50 charge for skates and a locker. My friends loved it...too bad I don't know how to skate. But that's another adventure for another time when I get that whole---balancing thing straight.

This 28-acre rooftop park complex sits above the Hudson and features an Olympic-sized indoor pool, a 25-yard outdoor pool, public basketball courts, tennis courts, a track and a roller-skating rink. The lap-swim hours (6:30-8:15am) are serene, but the spacious pools bustle with kids throughout the day. The facility was built atop a sewage-treatment plant, but rest assured, there aren't any stray odors. Bring lunch and set up shop at one of the park's picnic tables. Perched 69 feet above the Hudson River, this spot features panoramic views of the George Washington Bridge and the Jersey Palisades, as well as an indoor Olympic-size pool. Bring the family, and make a day of it (kids under 4 years are free, under 15 years are $1, seniors, 62 and over are $1, and adults are $2).

All 5 Stars for the kindness of the staff at the snack bar. The French fries are delicious. I had a mint tea with honey (which I walk with). The guy behind the counter and I shared a good laugh because I had packets of that in my pocket. The kids were very friendly. I assume that there's a school some where around. The kids told me that the fries were ,"So good!" They were right. I'd come here again to sit and do some reading.

Great park, great view, clean and it's huge! There is lots to do at Riverbank State Park. There's a track, ice skating/skating (winter/summer), an indoor and outdoor pool and a sprinkler system (if the pool isn't your thing and or too crowded). Riverbank also has basketball courts (indoor/outdoor), playgrounds and a gym (hmmm feels like I'm missing something). Oh, yes, a soccer field. You can also picnic although, no grills. The only bad thing I have to say is: LET THE SMALL DOGS IN! I totally understand why no pets are allowed but man, it sucks sometimes not being able to bring my baby girl inside. But the bright side to this is you can also access Riverside Park which is located downstairs and runs along the entire Hudson River (open to any and all). Oooh, I almost forgot! There is also a restaurant inside Riverbank, however, I haven't had the chance to eat there (yet). Note: The park can be entered on either 145th Street or 138th Street (Riverside Drive).

I used to come here ALL the time when I lived in Harlem with my pops. We would chill by the water, go swimming, grub, people watch and sometimes go ice skating. Ahh, good times with my old man. Fast forward a decade or so later, I would come here to chill with my boyfriend and once in a while my field hockey team would have games here. Damn, I miss playing on the turf. I haven't been back in about 5 years to this park. When the weather warms up, I am going to have to remind myself to take a stroll. This place is somewhat magical and serene.

A wonderful set of amenities in this lush mix of foliage and fun. Ive attended and dance events there, picnics, outdoor films, they also have trails and tracks for jogging/runnings, roller and ice skating as well as swimming. Yes this place is pretty big and nice. More than enough space for everyone and anyone to barbeque or lay down a blanket and soak in the sun. The pool is always well kept, and inviting, its all so relaxing. Its serene - its green. Just go.

Running track, softball and baseball fields, a full size football field, pool, ice skating, and it's right off the 1 line. I play organized sports at this park and it's one of my favorites. the Turf fields are in good shape. There are bathrooms and water fountains and it's easy to get to. Take 1 to 135 and walk west.

Very nice park along the hudson river, its the hidden gem of Harlem. A lot of stuff to do inside,including a very big track for running and swimming pool with a water spray. Definitely worth spending your whole day!!!

Looking at locations for my daughter's party! Well it's beautiful, I wish we could have our own private area.

Price: I really don't want to tell Highlight: Ooh, reprieve from the Concrete Jungle MAMAIJUSWANNASKATE!!! I always passed the park but it wasn't until I attended a retro roller rink party here that I was sold as a fan! There is something about 4 wheeled skates that brings me immediate and sustained bliss. And I will be back again and again and again for the swimming pool, for walks and for of course SKATING. There were lockers for belongings and the vibe is lovely. I can't wait for nice weather!!

I LOVE THIS STATE PARK! I started swimming here awhile ago and have been going there again and again... It's open 7 days a week, $2 admission fee, clean showers and changing room, clean and spacious pool, and didn't I say it's only $2??!! :) If you're a hard-core swimmer, go in the morning during the lap swim hours or go in the morning before 12pm. Otherwise, you can't swim without kicking someone's butt or getting hit on the head, plus it can get annoyingly loud when the pool is full of teenagers. And don't forget to bring a padlock. Check out the other facilities too while you're at the park: tennis, basketball, children's playground, etc. THANKS NY~

A hidden gem! Don't tell anyone about this place! This park has it all! There's a pool, skating rink (roller in summer, ice in winter), full sized track, basketball, tennis courts, benches, gym, handball...I'm sure there's more I've missed. No where else in Manhattan can you find a full sized track (at least not that I know of). I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it. The park is very well kept and beautiful. I can't wait to come back when it gets nicer.

The Best Olympic size indoor swimming pool in Manhattan. Or only one exist in Manhattan. I have been here for swimming for many years. The price is much cheaper than other sports club. And the huge space for many sports activities. We are lucky to have such a great State Park in Manhattan.

Amazingly huge complex of sporty wonder - swimming, tennis, soccer, basketball, softball, and all other sports that I don't play but don't mind living vicariously through others. Tennis is particularly cheap here though since it is a state park - $20 season membership with ability to bring a guest and make advance reservations. That deal is nothin but ace !

I have been attending this park since I was about 12yrs. I was there the first day it opened 1993. I LOVE this park... This review is basically to say that because everything is so inexpensive it's important to donate money in order to keep the park clean and beautiful.