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It's NYC's first big snow in years. Here's where to get your sled on.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
and
Ramsey Khalifeh
Published Feb 13, 2024
Modified Feb 13, 2024
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Molly Hussey/New York Public Radio
By
Brittany Kriegstein
and
Ramsey Khalifeh
Published Feb 13, 2024
Modified Feb 13, 2024
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It’s time to dust off that toboggan.
By Tuesday afternoon, New Yorkers will be able to do something they haven’t been able to do for at least two years: hit the city’s parks with sleds and cross-country skis.
With the nor'easter expected to dump 6 to 8 inches of snow throughout the five boroughs and beyond, snow sports enthusiasts should have plenty of ground cover for a variety of activities. You can find some of the best sledding spots in all five boroughs on this list.
But is this the right snow for sledding, skiing and snow sculpting?
According to the National Weather Service, the answer is yes.
“It has everything to do with the temperature,” said meteorologist Brian Ciemnecki. “When you're trying to make a snowball, you need a little bit of moisture in the snow to kind of make it compact. If it's dry, if you ever pick up a very dry snow, it'll just kind of fall out of your hand and blow away.”
As temperatures hover around freezing throughout Tuesday’s storm, the snow should have just the right amount of moisture to make it sticky — perfect for building snowmen and sliding down slopes.
After a long wait to get into remote learning, the only assignment was to have fun in the snow.
Ray Vazquez/New York Public Radio
Colder air means drier snow, which doesn’t compact very well, Ciemnecki said.
Public school classes were supposed to be remote but many parents and schools said the city's online system was not working well into the school day, so they decided to play hooky.
Sam Yospe, 39, was at Prospect Park with his kids later in the day — a kindergartner and second grader. They did some remote learning in the morning, then decided to bail.
"We just decided to skip that and play in the snow," Yospe told Gothamist. "We did the classes with their main teacher. They both enjoy going to school … but we definitely wanted to get out here and enjoy the snow."
Jonathan Yospe, 7, confirmed: "I think it’s super exciting!"
Natalie Green, 42, took her 2-year-old son out to see what the hubbub was about.
"We had a hard time getting him to the park. He doesn’t really know to maneuver yet because he’s so little," she said. "But he likes dogs. And he likes the snowballs. The more snow the better!"
The city slopes are not the only prime real estate for sledding and skiing. Jersey City's Liberty State Park and Lincoln Park have some decent hills and wide open fields.
A child enjoys the slopes of Lincoln Park in Jersey City. This is the first big snowfall for the under-2 set.
David Giambusso/Gothamist
Lara Bok eschewed snow sports to pursue her year-round hobby of surfing, and hit the waves of Rockaway Beach despite the weather.
Lara Bok gets ready to hit the waves.
Brigid Bergin/Gothamist
NWS is encouraging people to stay off the roads until the evening. Airports are urging travelers to check their flight information for storm-related delays or cancelations. The MTA will run fewer Metro-North trains on Tuesday, but otherwise run full service, agency Chair Janno Lieber said.
A special election is scheduled for New York's 3rd Congressional District on Tuesday, but a spokesperson for New York City's Board of Elections said no alterations were currently planned for the roughly two dozen schools that will serve as polling places.
While most New Yorkers must still go about their workdays regardless of the storm, Ciemnecki said it’s worth just taking a minute to pause and look around.
“I think it doesn't matter if you love snow, you're going to be a really happy person today, just seeing something,” he said. “‘Cause it has been a long time since we've had snowstorms around here.”
Tagged
education
sledding
weather
snow
parks
Brittany Kriegstein
Brittany Kriegstein covers all breaking news around New York City, with a focus on crime and gun violence. Got a tip? Email Brittany at [email protected].
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Ramsey Khalifeh
Ramsey Khalifeh is a transportation reporter on the NYC Accountability desk covering the largest transit system in the country. He was previously a general assignment reporter at Gothamist and worked on the Boston Globe's metro and copy desk. Got a tip? Email [email protected]
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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