First off, it's never a good idea to go through Central Park at night. While Central Park is an idyllic tourist attraction during the day, it is technically supposed to be closed late at night and in the early hours of the morning. The vast majority of cases of crime and violence in the park occur at night.
Sleep under the stars! Camp overnight in our parks with our Urban Park Rangers as your hosts and guides. Pitch a tent under the stars and settle in for a night of adventure. Some of our family-friendly camping programs may feature a Ranger-led nighttime hike through the woods, storytelling, and s'mores!
While there are several bodies of water located in the park, it is illegal to swim in the ponds and the reservoir. The only option for swimming is Lasker Rink and Pool. Unfortunately, the infrastructure was failing and the site is currently under construction for a massive $150 million renovation.
In city parks, it is illegal to “engage in camping, or erect or maintain a tent, shelter or camp” without a permit, or to be in a park at all between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. unless posted rules state otherwise.
Primitive camping is allowed on many DEC lands, including Forest Preserve lands in the Catskills and Adirondacks, as well as on State Forest lands outside the Preserve. Primitive camping is prohibited on Unique Areas, Wildlife Management Areas, and a few other categories of state land.
The northern perimeter of the park has its share of street crime, but there are only three NYPD cameras along that stretch. There are five however, along Central Park South, where several pricey hotels, including the Essex House, are located and tourists gather to take carriage rides through the park.
Central Park is—as a whole, of course—one of New York City's most beautiful free things to explore, but we'd like to specifically highlight all the statues there are to see.
Central Park at Night is often considered a dangerous and not safe New York place. In fact, Central Park in NYC is closed to the public from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. Visiting Central Park in New York after dark or outside the opening hours is highly discouraged, even if you love to go running in the evening.