Training for a 5K? Or maybe you’re just looking for a place to enjoy a leisurely walk. In this piece, we’ll share details about some great parks and trails that are right in your own neighborhood. Just steps from your East Village apartment at EVGB, you can check out John V. Lindsay East River Park, a 57-acre green space filled with bike paths, playgrounds, and sport fields. It’s a perfect spot for a jog along the water while taking in breathtaking views. We also suggest Tompkins Square Park and Union Square Park if you’re hoping to fit in a stroll with friends or are looking for an excellent place to stretch your legs on your own. It’s all literally at your feet when you live in the East Village luxury rentals at EVGB.

There’s no finer place to spend a day along the East River than John V. Lindsay East River Park. Inspiring views abound with both the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge reaching out from the waterfront. While the quarter-mile running track offers a groomed space to practice, most will be drawn to dramatic views of the harbor as the park’s riverside path connects parts of the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway. Stay within the park or take any number of interconnected paths and trails to other parks for near endless routes. Expand your training with a bike ride (the riverside path welcomes cyclists), or bring friends for a pick-up game at the basketball court. Dedicated soccer, football, baseball, and softball fields provide plenty of opportunities for getting that heart rate up and having a bit of fun in the process. As one of the largest waterfront spaces in the city, John V. Lindsay East River Park has something for everyone to do and see.

While not nearly as large as John V. Lindsay East River Park, Tompkins Square Park offers a range of experiences rivaled by few other spaces in the city. Found in the middle of the East Village, the park reflects the texture, color, and vibrancy of the surrounding neighborhood, making it a draw for the artists and visionaries who have called it home at one time or another. Walk, don’t run, and take your time exploring the many festivals and events that come to the park, such as the Howl! Festival — named for and inspired by Allen Ginsberg’s poem “Howl” — which celebrates the history of art in the East Village and the Lower East Side each spring. Late summer brings the cool to Tompkins Square with the annual Charlie Parker Jazz Festival. Featuring both contemporaries of and those inspired by the late, great saxophonist and bebop pioneer Charlie “Bird” Parker, this 27th iteration of the event will continue the festival’s tradition of introducing new audiences to Parker’s revolutionary work and giving longtime fans another chance to revel in his genius.

Since its redesign in 1872 by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux to specifically “accommodate mass congregations of New Yorkers,” Union Square Park has seen countless gatherings dedicated to civic engagement. From the first Labor Day parade in 1882 to the first Earth Day in 1970, Union Square has been a part of the history of major social movements. Its location and origin as a town square of sorts makes it a natural gathering spot, not just for the nation’s business, but also for more leisurely pursuits — a variety of seasonal festivals and events take place here. But ultimately, what makes this place special are the thoughts and ideas that it evokes. Just look for the statues of Abraham Lincoln and Mohandas K. Gandhi if you need some inspiration. There is something unique at play in Union Square. It’s no wonder the Department of the Interior designated it a National Historic Landmark. Pick a Saturday and spend some time here. Who knows what you may find yourself a part of?

For those on the move, there’s no better place to live than the East Village. Whether you’re running with a purpose at John V. Lindsay East River Park, lingering with friends at Tompkins Square, or contemplating a grander scheme at Union Square, the East Village has a public space for you. Take them all in, and find your perfect spot to revitalize, relax, or recreate.