Robert J.
Yelp
Sure, it lacks the history (and the sheer acreage) of Central Park, but Hunters Point South is a gem in its own right. Bring a book, bring a dog -- bring a kid, if you must -- and you might spend half a day here enjoying all that HPS has to offer:
1. The view. There's no better place in all of NYC to view the Manhattan skyline from ground level. You're basically parallel with 38th Street, so you can take in the full sweep from South Ferry to Central Park South. Come at sundown, grab a seat along the river, and get ready for an inspiring show.
2. The dog runs. Overprotective soccer moms have ruined Gantry State Park just to the north, but HPS is dog friendly, and the two dog runs get a lot of use. There's also plenty of shade inside the run, which is pretty scarce in a park where newly planted trees don't offer much of a canopy (yet).
3. The playgrounds. NYC should win a prize for its creative playground equipment, and HPS is no exception. The playground here is big and whimsical and inviting enough that I often see grown-ups hogging the slides.
4. The ball field. It's a big circle covered in Astroturf, and it attracts every kind of "sport," from cricket to kite-flying. Weekends can get very crowded. There's a grassy hill on the south side, planted with a few small trees -- if you're lucky, you can grab a spot in the shade to read your book and watch a game of soccer.
5. The sport court. It's got your standard basketball hoops, plus a decent selection of outdoor workout equipment where young guys like to impress their ladies (and check out each other's pecs). Think Venice Beach with a NY accent.
6. The beach. You can't dip your toes in the water, but right by the ferry stop is a big, triangular sandbox that's great for beach volleyball and building castles. They somehow manage to keep the sand really clean, which is a miracle in itself.
7. The food & drink. LIC Landing is a great restaurant/coffee shop right by the ferry dock. Burgers and beer start around $7, and service is friendly if not quick. You order at the walk-up window, then take your food to the expansive seating area under a big canopy right that water's edge. On weekends, there are usually competing food/ice cream trucks at the eastern border of the park.
8. The restrooms. Okay, toilets aren't an "attraction," per se, but the restrooms here merit a mention just because they're clean and functional and you won't find homeless people in their underwear taking a bath in the sink.
9. The ferry. If you arrive via the 7 train, you can depart on the ferry (or vice-versa), with stops in Midtown, Williamsburg, Dumbo, the Seaport, and Governor's Island.
HPS isn't huge, but it packs in a lot of features and so far, at least, it rarely seems overcrowded. Definitely one of the Top 5 parks in the entire city.