There's no such place. Now move along, nothing to see here folks .

The area was full of welfare hotels. We called that place needle park, even before the movie. But there many middle-class and upper-class artsy types as well. A candy-store owner 4 blocks north tried to molest me in the basement of his store in the late 60's.

The area portrayed as needle park in the film is still there. They have upgraded it, and put in new benches, but its still recognizable. It's on 71 st. and Broadway.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/71st+and+broadway+nyc/@40.7778582,-73.9819636,3a,75y,180h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sbXFggxy1OGaBBJFQ3CA48Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x1f265e9607b4960d!6m1!1e1

Yes, I live about 2 blocks away from Needle Park! It is SO clean and nice. Very pretty statue and flowers, a subway station, newstand
You'd never know. The upper west side of NYC is SO clean and family oriented. The most dangerous thing about the upper west side is getting run over by a stroller!!

It is not Central Park- it is a little park that was located between 72 & Bway- since the movie 40 years ago, they have cleaned up the area and put up a new subway station where the scences or the film needle park were filmed,- also remember that the term needle park, wasnt just that location but used for any park were junkies hung out in the city, I ve heard more than one park called needle park in my life-

yes its sunny bright full of children playing sports and picnics and lots of soccer. where have all the junkies gone? central park is really peaceful though especially on the side thats not polluted with hundreds of people