Each year, the whims of winter force New York City to slow down and take a breath of crisp, cold air. In our parks, the lack of vehicles and footsteps allows the snow to linger longer, converting these green spaces into postcard landscapes of white and outdoor recreation meccas. On a snowy day in Prospect Park, offMetro photographer Natasha Shapiro headed out with her camera, warm layers and a pair of snowshoes to explore the quiet lawns of interior Brooklyn.
The snow days in New York City allow a small number of locals to pull their often stored cross country skis out to enjoy a few days (or sometimes just hours) of gliding through the city.
An easier option for explorers are snowshoes which, can fit in the back of a closest and easily be strapped on to a pair of warm boots. If the snow isn’t particularly deep, leave the snowshoes at home and just hike through the park.
The sound of laughter often fills Prospect Park on snow days as children take sleds to the small local hills, lapping the natural rollercoaster as parents socialize with coffee and tea in their mittened hands.
For those without a sled or snowshoes, a shovel and the desire for a workout offers space to build an igloo. In 2016, an enterprising resident even attempted to list their igloo on Airbnb.
And of course, no snow day is truly complete without a snowman found throughout the parks in various sizes and locations. Here a snowman is the only intrepid New Yorker to sit on the frozen benches of the park.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram