Tompkins Square Park

What was once a hotbed of crime and drugs has transformed in the past decade into the crown jewel of the East Village. The 10.5-acre green space underwent a $2.1 million renovation in the ’90s, and the result is a cleaner, greener park—one that's especially dog-friendly, with fenced-off areas for pooches big and small, and three bone-shaped doggy swimming pools. The park also contains several monuments, including an elm tree that serves as a memorial to Hare Krishnas.