Chess in the Park?

I've seen people playing chess on fixed permanent tables with chess boards as table tops in New York.  What's the name of the park?  What other cities promote chess in the park this way?  I haven't seen any in London since moving here last August.

Russia! I've been there twice and in each visit, I've seen a group of people playing chess in a park. They parked themselfs on the nearest bench and after that, nothing could stop them! Even I, had a look at thier games. 

The classic one in NYC is Washington Park. Most cities have chess boards in parks, it's more a question of people using them. I've seen chess boards in parks in Charlottesville VA and Bethesda MD, but never anyone playing on them. There are boards in Dupont Circle in DC that people play on though.

Here are some possible New York City locations.

Central Park

Tompkins Square Park

Washington Square Park.

Cambridge Massachusetts has outdoor chess at Harvard Square, maybe 8-10 tables, but its more of a sidewalk cafe than a park.

This is something I feel England is missing... I have never been to chess in a park in America, but I'm sure it would be a good experience.

I guess England doesn't have parks in the same way as America, but it wouldn't hurt to have one or two chessboards here and there...

Not really. No-one goes to the park for chess, so you'd have no opponent!

If the boards were permanent, people would be more likely to go.

I played very much in Parks in Russia in different towns.

In Israel I play sometimes at the beaches.

Yes, it would be good to have boards in the park, despite the weather. But I guess it is hard to kick-start a habit of going to play chess in the park, in a population that doesn't.

Union Square in NYC and Bryant Park also have boards and people to play

I say we start with a National Chess Day.

I think having chess boards in the parks in England it's a great idea but, just curiosity, do they teach chess in the primary schools, as in other countries?

No, they don't. Although I have suggested to the headteacher of my Secondary School that chess be included as part of Maths.

It's not only missing in England, this is something that is missing in whole western europe from what I can tell. We need more chess parks :-(

Thanks Matt! Maybe you can ask the Southampton Council to put some chess boards in the parks, but they might object saying they need the funds to buy expensive biscuits for their productive meetings or a new CCTV system or more traffic wardens...  

Holland Park in London.

There one in Fremantle near Perth of Western Australia and another picture here at the same place.

Chicago!

Here one in Christchurch of New Zealand, no table though.

or ever  a live chess happening

were we find someone to play with in our city