A new report highlights the need to connect more New Yorkers with the city’s natural spaces — and the Bronx is already home to some pretty great places to explore. When we think about getting out into nature in New York City, we might picture a trip far outside the city. But you don’t necessarily have to leave the five boroughs to find forests, trails and places to get away from the usual city scenery. A new report from the Center for an Urban Future found that 47.7% of New Yorkers live within a 10-minute walk of a natural area. That’s significantly lower than the more than 84% who live within walking distance of a traditional park. The report, Harnessing NYC’s Natural Areas: Connecting New Yorkers to the City’s Wild Places, looks at how the city can make its natural spaces more accessible to residents.
Connecting Black and Brown Bronxites to nature
The Bronx is home to some of NYC’s best opportunities to experience nature, from the trails and forests of Van Cortlandt Park to the Bronx River and the natural areas of Pelham Bay Park. But having access to nature and actually feeling comfortable exploring it aren’t always the same thing. That’s where organizations like Hood Hikers come in.
Founded in 2020, Hood Hikers is a community-based organization that organizes hiking experiences centered around Black and Brown New Yorkers. The organization has grown to more than 5,000 members, and its events regularly sell out. The idea is simple: make hiking and exploring the outdoors feel accessible, welcoming and community-driven.
You don’t have to be an “outdoorsy” person
You don’t need expensive hiking gear or a weekend getaway to start spending more time outside. A walk through one of the Bronx’s larger parks, a trail you’ve never explored or a group hike can be an easy way to experience a different side of the borough. For teens and families especially, getting outside can also be a chance to put the phone down for a little while, get some exercise and explore parts of the Bronx you may not normally visit.
Hood Hikers offers organized hiking experiences for its community. Learn more about upcoming excursions and membership here.