Happy New Year and happy first snowstorm of the year – it’s a no-school snow day.  Keep this updated 2014 guide handy for fun places to go sledding in the city.

MANHATTAN

Central Park on the East Side and Riverside Park on the West Side are the destinations of choice for snow action:

• Cedar Hill in Central Park on the Upper East Side (Fifth Avenue between 76^th and 79^th streets) is my favorite Manhattan locale, but be prepared for lots of people
• Pilgrim Hill in Central Park on the Upper East Side (Fifth Avenue and 72^nd Street) – its long slope is my other favorite when I don’t mind crowds and a bit of mania
• Near the Metropolitan Museum on the Upper East Side (Central Park, Fifth Avenue and 81^st Street)  – gentler slope that’s great for little kids (behind the Ancient Playground)
• Riverside Park on the Upper West Side, Riverside Drive at 103rd Street – for adults and kids alike
• Riverside Park on the Upper West Side, Riverside Drive at 91st Street – much scarier; not recommended for children. There’s a reason it’s called “Suicide Park.”
• Also on the Upper West Side, St. Nicholas Park has a long, steep hill that divides the Harlem side from the Morningside Heights side.
• At the northern most point of Manhattan, Inwood Hill Park has good sledding. Near Dyckman Street and the Hudson River.

QUEENS

• Forest Park – sledding is popular on the golf course with its three hills and at the Mary Whalen Playground at 79th St and Park Lane South
• Juniper Valley Park at 75th Street and Lower Highland Park
• Crocheron Park along the bay offers both easy and steep hill sledding. 35^th Avenue between the Cross Island Parkway and 215^th Street.
• Check out Astoria Park’s hills by entering at 19^th Street and Shore Boulevard.

THE BRONX

• Ewen Park – a steep hill with the added benefit of stairs to climb back up, Riverdale Avenue at 231^st Street
• Van Cortland Park – Also in Riverdale, shallow hills but lots of area to sled. This one is easy to get to via the 1 train to 242^nd Street or the 4 train to Woodlawn.
• Yet another Riverdale spot, Henry Hudson Memorial Park that will challenge you with its drops straight down to the Hudson River.  Kappock Street near Palisade Avenue
• Crotona Park at Fulton Ave between Crotona Park North and 172^nd Street – a great area for kids of all ages.  The slope is located behind the ballfield.

STATEN ISLAND

• Clove Lake Park – a family destination, Martling Avenue at Slosson Avenue
• Dead Man’s Hill in Silver Lake Park. Enter at Forest Avenue and Victory Boulevard.

BROOKLYN

• Fort Greene Park – The steepest area is of the park’s four hills is at the back part of the hill leading down to Myrtle Avenue; the smallest hill is near Willoughby entrance of Myrtle Avenue. Entrance to the park is on Myrtle or DeKalb avenues.
• Prospect Park has many choices:
  • 9th Street and Prospect Park West, a good downhill run
  • The Nethermead, rolling hills in the Picnic House area
  • The Long Meadow Slope—Tennis House Area in Prospect Park
  • Vanderbilt Playground – off of Prospect Park Southwest
• Sunset Park — Enter at 41st/44th Street and 5th Avenue.  The hill is in the park between 42nd and 43rd streets.  Great views of the State of Liberty, too.
• Owl’s Head Park in Bay Ridge (at Shore Parkway, Shore Road, Colonial Road and 68 Street). Hill is at Shore Road and 97th Street.
• Brooklyn Heights’ dog park by Harry Chapin Playground, near the Brooklyn Heights Promenade and Brooklyn Bridge Park
• Clumber Corner in DUMBO near the BQE and Washington Street