Discover White Plains, NYs Thriving Outdoors and Cosmopolitan Charm

White Plains, NY is a city that embodies the qualities of being thriving, cosmopolitan, vibrant, diverse, bustling, historic and modernized. Despite its urban setting surrounded by skyscrapers and commercial centers, it still offers plenty of opportunities to explore nature. Here are some of the best places to discover both the outdoors and cultural aspects of White Plains:

1. Cranberry Lake Preserve (1609 Old Orchard St., 10604) This 190acre preserve features miles of hiking trails through wetlands and forests that are home to various bird species such as ospreys and woodpeckers. The lake itself showcases an impressive variety of amphibians including painted turtles.

2. Silver Lake Preserve (65 Gedney Way) This natural oasis in the heart of downtown boasts two miles of paths around a 23acre lake with abundant plant life including wildflowers during springtime. Visitors can also spot rabbits nibbling on greens near woodland trails.

3. Saxon Woods Park (1800 Mamaroneck Ave.) A more expansive park for outdoor activities such as swimming at the Olympicsized pool or trekking through horseback riding trails enveloped by sprawling trees with leaves turning golden colors come autumn time.

4. Kensico Dam Plaza (Bronx River Pkwy & Kensico Dam Rd.) An iconic landmark featuring a grand dam located between Valhalla/Westchester County Center RT station & North White Plains Rail Station; exercise enthusiasts can enjoy biking around while encountering butterflies feeding on flowering plants nearby amidst views showcasing New York City skyline from afar.

Beyond these green spaces lie numerous neighborhoods brimming with multicultural heritage worth exploring too! Downtown White Plains pedestrian zones offer boutique shopping experiences coupled with historical structures like Jacob Purdy House built back in early 1700s which has been renovated into an art exhibit space. Catch a Broadway show at the White Plains Performing Arts Center and dine on diverse cuisines from around the globe.

White Plains strikes an impressive balance of natural beauty with metropolitan charm, providing visitors with plenty of opportunities to reconnect with nature while immersing themselves in culture.

Scientific facts supplementing information:

Cranberry Lake Preserve has seen over 200 different bird species recorded by Cornell Universitys eBird program.

Silver Lake Preserves trails are well marked and feature trail maps that identify points of interest for hikers including wildflowers and various plant life.

Saxon Woods Park features several tree species such as red maple & sassafras which make up for colorful fall foliage seasons causing leaves to turn shades like reds, oranges, yellows & browns.

Butterflies spotted along Kensico Dam Plaza include Eastern Tiger Swallowtails (also known as Papilio glaucus), Red Admiral butterflies (Vanessa atalanta) and Monarchs (Danaus plexippus).

Websites:

https://parks.westchestergov.com/cranberrylake

http://www.silverlakepark.org/

https://parks.westchestergov.com/saxonwoodspark

https://www.visitwestchesterny.com/listing/kensicodamplaza/7522/

Twitter Handles:

@WestchesterParkSystem

@VisitWestchester