Socrates Sculpture Park: A Hidden (and Free) Gem in Queens
Submitted by Fiona Taylor on
![Part garden, part outdoor art museum, Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City, Queens is free and open to the public every day, year-round.](https://mommyp-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/styles/image620x420/s3/socrates_sculpture_4.jpg?itok=ScPH9JoM)
It’s a total cliché to say something is a hidden gem, but in the case of Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City, Queens, it’s hard to find a description that’s more apt. For years, I drove right past the park, which is somewhat concealed behind a tall fence on Vernon Boulevard and Broadway, on the way to my daughter's school. Finally, my family decided to investigate.
We weren’t expecting to find a five-acre, open-air art park with amazing views of the East River and Manhattan. The artwork on display changes regularly, and visitors can easily spend a day here wandering among the sculptures, sunbathing, reading, or strolling the gardens.
Best of all, Socrates Sculpture Park is totally FREE, and is open year-round for amazing waterfront views, public art, and cool family-friendly programs and events. Read on for even more reasons why you should go.