Although I haven’t been to many places, I love to always visit new ones, learn about them and get different experiences from each one. There are places that are not necessarily the best ones to be physically in but the emotions you experienced were wonderful and suddenly they become the favorite place you can think of. Other places you just fall in love with them because of their nice location or environment that make you feel a deep connection. For me, Astoria Park is definitely one of my favorite places in New York City and I think not only mine but to many others as well. According to the article “The Happiest and Saddest Places o New York City, According to Twitter” by Brian Merchant, the New England Complex Systems Institute reports that Astoria Park ranks between the top 10 happiest places of New York.

When I came to the United States 5 years ago I first lived in Ozone Park, Queens. I lived there for a year and then moved to Astoria when I was going into high school. I moved just a block away from the park, and I remember when I saw it for the first time in the summer. I was standing right in front of it, looking side to side, up and down. I visualized the big green trees and the blooming flowers around it. I thought to myself “This will be the place to be myself”. So, it became like that.

I have experienced so many things in this park that I don’t even know where to start from. In the summer it becomes the most magical place to be in every day. I go there to read, think, exercise, or just lie on the grass and stare at the blue sky thinking about nothing. I remember myself going in the spring to do homework or projects. There was also a period of time where I used to run in the track field every night, or go to practice in the day with my school’s soccer club.

Moreover, I used to go there occasionally with my family and friends to just spend an afternoon having a picnic and chatting about our lives. Not to forget that I also appreciate the fact that there are always events going on in the park when its summer. I can go watch movies for free on a big screen and lie on the grass and have a relaxed time. Or listen to bands performing in this opened space. There is also a public pool in the park, although I never go its good for my brother because he loves it. Another great thing about it is that there is always a fair in the summer where you can ride some big games and eat sweets until your stomach hurts. In fall and winter I mostly go to walk out some sorrows I may have and just sit on the pavement next to the river observing how it flows. Whether I am happy, stressed, or sad it’s always the one place that I can go to.

Here is a picture of it at day and night! By the way, I took  my profile picture in the park as well.

 (different place in the park)