The city's last privately owned island was sold to the federal government for $2 million. South Brother Island, a 7-acre island (just west of Rikers Island), will be turned over to the city's Parks and Recreation Department and will remain, as amNew York reports, "significant nesting colony for several types of shore birds, including Egrets, Cormorant, and Night Herons." According to the NY Times, the deal, which was "brokered by the Trust for Public......

Thinking about playing hooky in a city park with your laptop? The Parks & Recreation Department has created a Google mash-up of parks with WiFi. There is even a live status update for the hotspots - looks like our plan to blog from the polar bear area of the Central Park this afternoon is foiled! Very important: Here's information about connect your laptop to city parks wireless.......

This Saturday, the City Parks & Recreation Department will open the first official mountain biking trail at Highbridge Park in Inwood. According to the Parks Department, the "new trail system includes black diamond features, a BMX track, and a challenge trail for younger or newer riders," as well as "trailhead kiosks, trail markers and interpretive signage, natural resources monitoring, landscaping material to replant denuded areas, trail building tools, and educational pamphlets that advocate safety......

The confetti is swept away. Champagne bottles are emptied. It’s 2007, do you know where your New Year’s resolutions are? Probably not. Resolutions are often unattainable or just plain boring. But for those still looking for some noble acts of self-sacrifice, it’s not too late— city programs offer some unique and helpful activities for your first weeks in the New Year. Exercise with the NYC Parks and Recreation Department, Jan 2- Jan 6: visit 20......

Nice: Court papers have been released showing how the city successfully blocked protests in Central Park, most notably protests during the Republican Convention. You might remember from two years ago that the some of the city's excuses for not having the protests on the Great Lawn were to protect the lawn (which had been renovated) and that the police might not be able to secure the lawn. But it turns out everyone's conspiracy theories......

Now that New York is experiencing a consistent amount of decent weather, I'd like to move my workouts from the gym to Central Park. One thing I'm concerned about is the amount of traffic on the park's main loop. When is Central Park closed to cars? Running Scared, Upper West Side Here are the details from the official New York City Parks & Recreation Department's website: Central Park is closed to automobiles on weekdays......

To make room for all the money they need to store for their roster, the Yankees are getting rid of 1,200 seats that were removed in the late '90s (they were installed in 1975). The best part is that the seats will go on sale to the public Monday, April 19, with money going towards the city's general fund. The Parks and Recreation Department has been housing them and Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe says, "If......