Battery Park City is a 90-acre "suburban/urban" land site on the lower west side of Manhattan, a short walk from the
Financial District and close to Wall Street. While home to the
World Financial Center and Winter Garden, most of the neighborhood is residential, with approximately one third of the area devoted to terrific parks such as the
Hudson River Park,
Battery Park and a waterfront esplanade. It's worth taking the time to explore the area as it is still so new that it feels very unlike the rest of New York City. In fact, this neighborhood is built on landfill created from the excavation of more than 1.2 million cubic yards of rocks and earth from the original
World Trade Center site. Unlike any other neighborhood, Battery Park City is managed by a corporation known as the
Battery Park City Authority.
In the southern portion you'll find most of Battery Park City's residential neighborhoods, comprising a number of building complexes. While there are a number of shops here, the feel is quite unlike elsewhere in the city; on a cold winter day the wind whips around and you'll hardly see the nannies and baby carriages that are plentiful on a warm day. Battery Park City is also home to one of New York's most famous high schools, Stuyvesant, whose challenging entrance examination attracts thousands of students each year. Given the proximity of so many financial institutions, the area is home to three excellent hotels, ranging from the world-class
Ritz-Carlton New York Battery Park to the more residential
Marriott ExecuStay Rector Square and the
Embassy Suites Hotel. While you'll find some nice possibilities for dining at the
World Financial Center and Winter Garden, other dining options within Battery Park City aren't the most fascinating in this city of world-class cuisine. However, nearby
Tribeca has a great number of excellent selections.
