socrates sculpture park

Grass, bike along the river, Art, NYC greenmarket, fresh air. Did I say the ART! Awesome sculptures. Escape! Just go, you'll see.

This is a class park, you just can't go expecting the world's nicest, most extensive garden. It's surely tucked away and not the biggest space. As far as maintenance is concerned it could be better. But it's not really about those things. It's a unique space with original art and a top view of Manhattan. Rarely that busy, a great place to sit and talk and be within art. You can get comfortable here, which is not always easy to do. Don't think you're going to see the world's most innovative park, but if you're looking for a nice spot in western Queens, this is as good as any.

Open air, by the water and with an ever-changing suite of big installations, this is a great place to spend half an hour. Entry is free and while there are no facilities (no risk of 'Exit Through The Gift Shop' fatigue here) it's a one-minute walk from the Noguchi Gallery if you fancy a coffee.Definitely coming again if in Queens.

I read a review in which a person said there were only 2 sculptures ,however,today I saw 15 .In addition a wonderful view of Manhattan .

Worth a visit, nice and friendly. A bit worn but really nice all in all!There is also a beautiful view of the Manhattan

I was super excited to visit this park but when I arrived I was very disappointed. There were about two outdoor sculptures on display and the rest of the park was just uncared for. The grass looked dry the fences by the water were broken and overall unsafe. The park is completely the opposite of what you see on the website which is a bummer because the concept is great !

This park is for creativity and particularly for outdoor art! We visited on Aug. 14 and were bit unlucky to find nothing at the time. Yet were compensated with some river side views!The park can have really interesting art but one needs to find about the activity calender and things happening in the park!In all a good concept !

...but I'd suggest that you head out to Astoria, Queens. It is a 15 minute walk from the subway station. The large park is on the edge of the water and admission is free. Each summer (from what I understand) artists are given fellowships to create outdoor art. They change with every season so you have to do some research as to what is on offer.It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I like the concert. Give an artist some money. Set them free in a park to create an installation simply for your pleasure and mine. I suspect that few cities other than New York could make this sort of concept work.Added bonus: you're only one block from the Noguchi Museum.

If you like abstract art then you will like the Socrates Sculpture Park. This park was created on an old land fill and I think has used the space available nicely. The park rotates a few different artists and exhibits a few times a year. Depending on the rotation you might really like or not like the exhibits. I find most of them interesting but there are a few I do not understand. Added benefit of the park is that you are along the water and you have a view of Manhattan. If you have some free time and like art then go, if not I do not think it is a major landmark to see when visiting NYC.

If you really need to waste an hour and not spend a penny, check it out, but don't expect to use a bathroom. The porta-potties are completing intolerable and I'm a camper. Some of the art is cool but the place is not maintained. Not impressed.

socrates sculpture park is one of the hidden jewels of Astoria, I have been going there for about 20 years. always inspiring, beautiful and unexpected. they have changed throughout the years adding events, movie screenings, children's events, yoga even.... love the dogs..... and the fishermen too that you may find under the shade fishing in the river. i miss the amazing tea cup sculpture that used to be in the river. as the tide went up and down you would see the tea cups emerge or become hidden. i loved it. you can relax, get some sun in the summer or build snowmen in the winter. love it.

Not quite sure what to say about this place. Definitely wait until the spring/summer to visit since it's right on the river the winds are bitterly cold. The sculptures are...um...best I can say is "interesting"

The "Socrates Sculpture Garden" is a much-touted but way overrated "attraction" in the generally bland Queens. But that is not to say that it isn't worth entering if you're in the area, because there are good views across to the bluff in Manhattan's Upper East Side, & the flat northern end of Roosevelt Island, with its picturesque lighthouse. But the "park" itself is ugly & untended, with miserable, scraggly trees & unwatered lawns; &, at least when this reviewer was there, contained no artwork of any kind. A better place for viewing Manhattan from Queens would be Astoria Park to the north; further south are Rainey Park & the pleasant Queensbridge Park, but both parks have views only of Roosevelt Island. Speaking of Roosevelt Island, that is by far the best place to see the view of Midtown & the Upper East Side from across the East River. Across Vernon Avenue from the "park", south of 31st Street, is the eye-catching Piano Factory Apartments (1887; top storey & mansard 1910), worth seeing just for the architecture.

I would not make a special trip to Socrates Sculpture Park, but if you are in the area, stop by and check it out. I happened to be nearby for work and stumbled upon this little park on the water. I had an hour to kill, and thought this place was pretty awesome and totally unexpected. Lots of quirky, fun, weird things on display. There was even a contraption that had music coming out of it. I thought it was great. I also met two friendly cats here as well (real cats, not people, just to be clear). If you are expecting Grounds for Sculpture or Storm King Art Center, you will be very disappointed. But if you are looking to see a handful of interesting, quirky outdoor exhibits - you will be impressed. I thought it was pretty cool.

Its a great place to walk your dog alot of locals do that there. Its a little slice of green in an otherwise maze of concrete.