PREP 9 is one of the most demanding programs any New York City seventh-grader can take on — a 14-month course across two summers and every Wednesday and Saturday, ending in boarding school placement — so a day in Riverside Park is a well-earned break in the middle of it. The 74th Street lawn gives them Hudson River light and one of the best stretches of Olmsted's riverfront park. If you know the program, this is its human face; if you don't, the outcomes are worth reading about.
What to expect
A student cohort gathered on the lawn for games, food and group activity, with the Hudson beyond the trees to the west. Riverside Park's promenade, the 72nd Street entrance and the Eleanor Roosevelt statue are all a short walk. The lawn is public and stays open around the group.
Good to know
- The 1, 2 or 3 to 72nd Street and a walk west along 72nd puts you at the park entrance
- This is a program gathering rather than a public event; the lawn and park stay open to everyone
- Riverside Park's paths are paved and mostly step-free, though there are stairs between terraces
- The tree canopy along this stretch gives better shade than most Manhattan lawns
- The Hudson River Greenway runs below the park if you want to continue along the water
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Common questions
What is PREP 9?
Prep for Prep's program for seventh-graders: a 14-month course across two summer sessions plus after-school Wednesdays and Saturdays, leading to boarding school placement as ninth-graders.
What is Prep for Prep?
A New York City organization that identifies academically talented public school students, prepares them intensively, places them in independent schools and supports them through college and beyond.
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