Plenty of people have been arrested for climbing New York City's buildings. In June of 2008, Alain Robert and Renaldo Clarke were both arrested for climbing the New York Times Building, though they did so hours apart and claimed their climbs were unrelated.
After David Malone was arrested for the same crime in July of 2008, the New York Times began removing the distinctive horizontal ceramic rods that sheathed its building.
In September of 2014, 17-year-old Demid Lebedev (of Instagram fame as demidism) was arrested for trespassing and reckless endangerment when he climbed to the top of NYC's tallest residential building 432 Park Avenue.
There have a been a slew of tourists arrested for climbing the Brooklyn Bridge, so much so that city officials discussed increasing security on the bridge.
To all you climb-crazed, daredevil New Yorkers, we have some news: There are buildings, rocks, and other structures in our city which you can legally climb.
What we're saying is that you can get your climb fix without getting arrested. Doesn't that sound wonderful?
Read on to find out where it's legal to climb in NYC.
1. Jefferson Market Courthouse (425 6th Avenue)
The Jefferson Market Branch of the New York Public Library was constructed in 1877 with an adjoining jail.
It's been used as a courthouse, utilized by various City agencies including the New York City Police Academy, and in 1961, Mayor Robert F. Wagner announced it'd be preserved through conversion to a branch of the New York Public Library.
Climbing to its top requires persevering through 149 steps to reach the breathtaking panoramic views at the top of this gigantic, castle-like, 172-foot tall structure.
It's often open to the public as part of the Open House New York events, and for tours.
2. Bouldering in Central Park
If you love climbing, but hate getting arrested, bouldering will excite you as much as sliced bread.
Okay, so sliced bread isn't particularly exciting unless you're the one slicing it and you get to use a lightsaber or something.
All you need to boulder in Central Park is a chalk bag to dry your slippery hands, a fall pad (a small mattress to protect you if you fall) and a buddy to spot you while you climb a less-than-10-foot-tall boulder.
Some of the most popular bouldering locations in Central Park are the Worthless Boulder, located near 110th Street, Cat Rock near Wollman Rink, and Rat Rock, near the Heckscher Ballfields.
Rat Rock is an ideal climbing structure for beginners, as expert climbers at the rock are often willing to show new climbers the best routes. Conversely, Worthless Boulder is isolated and most challenging.
3. Tree climbing class
noelhefele New #tree outside the front door. #milliontrees #happy #nyc #welcome to the #neighborhood #prospectleffertsgardens
Tree climbing is officially considered disorderly conduct by the City of New York, but there is an intensive seven-month job training program that teaches New Yorkers how to care for, prune, and climb trees.
Students learn to hoist themselves skyward, walk on branches, and shimmy up trunks.
It's called the MillionTrees Training Program, and it was formed in an outreach effort by the city. A collection of private tree-care companies and nonprofit groups to train urban young people for "green-collar" jobs.
Graduates from the program work as apprentice arborists with the parks department and the New York City Housing Authority, horticulturists with the Prospect Park Alliance, and grounds custodians at Wave Hill and the Central Park Conservancy.
4. The Statue of Liberty
Until 1916, visitors to the Statue of Liberty were able to climb up her torch and crown. When German spies set of an explosion on July 30th, 1916, climbing the Statue of Liberty was no longer allowed, as the explosions' shock waves were so powerful they made the torch unstable.
Visitors could still climb the observatory in the statue's crown until September 11th 2001, but the crown was reopened in 2009.
Starting in 2009, the National Park Service implemented a system that requires advance reservations for access to the crown. Only 240 people per day are allowed to climb the crown.
The climb itself is strenuous, and requires scaling 354 steps to reach the top of its 20 stories.
5. Indoor rock wall climbing at Chelsea Piers
rebelvixxen One day I'll be ready to take on #thewall. Took my first #belay lesson. I'll be #rockclimbing in no time. #fitness #athlete #work #lifestyle #bodybuilding #body
The Sports Center at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan has one of the largest indoor rock climbing gyms in NYC, and one of the most challenging rock walls in the country.
Their main wall is 46-feet-high and 100-feet-wide, and they've got a 14-foot-high and 70-foot wide bouldering wall. All-in-all they've got 11,000-square-feet of sculpted, three-dimensional imprint climbing surfaces with numerous and continually challenging routes.
In order to have access to these wild climbs, becoming a Sports Center member is recommended, though non-members who are belay certified can purchase a $50 day pass.
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