Last year, during the endless school holidays, I set myself a challenge aka The Central Park Playground Challenge. I was determined to visit every playground in Central Park before it got too cold.
The Central Park Playground Challenge
I love a challenge, so wrote a list of all 21 playgrounds and thoroughly enjoyed crossing them off, week by week. After dragging my two children to 3 playgrounds in one morning, I realised that this challenge was more of a personal goal than something that was benefiting them so I visited the last few by myself to see if there were any worth returning to. I have sorted them into categories for ease of reference. This is just my humble opinion. I have no formal playground assessment training but I have spent many, many, many, many hours in playgrounds over the last 5 years.
So this is my summary based on the likes and wants of my 2 and 5 year old also my need for shade, safety and a seat with good visibility.
Worth a special trip
All have a good mix of playground equipment, good visibility, plenty of shade and entertaining sprinklers.
W110th Street playground – (I suspect +5 year olds would be bored) However there were no nearby toilets that I could find.
E110th Street Playground – (for +4 year olds) Close to toilets
Adventure Playground – (for +4 year olds) close to toilets in Tavern on The Green
Tarr-Coyne Wild West Playground – (for 4+ olds)
Good playgrounds
E72nd Street Playground – awesome sprinklers, relatively quiet too, toilets down the hill near Alice in Wonderland.
Tarr Family Playground – very little shade but a great playground, no nearby toilets
Tarr-Coyne Tots Playground – perfect for the under 3s, close to toilets in Tavern on the Green
Ancient Playground – terrible visibility but my children really enjoyed it
Mariner’s – Toll Family Playground – great for the little ones
Meh – okay, have a look if you’re in the area but don’t make a special trip
Billy Johnson Playground – currently under construction. Cool slide but that’s about it.
Abraham and Joseph Spector Playground – my two did love this one but there was a lot of sand and not much else.
Pinetum Playground – not sure there was enough equipment in this one to be considered a playground
James Michael Levin Playground
Ruth and Arthur Smadbeck – Heckscher East Playground
Don’t bother
Diana Ross – found it unsafe, really needs upgrading
Safari Playground – not really much there except for the odd hippo.
Special Mention
Heckscher Playground – My kids love it but as a parent, I really don’t like it. It has terrible visibility and it’s always packed. Lots of toilets though!
The Next Challenge
Now that the Central Park Playground Challenge has been completed, I need a new challenge for summer. My children got used to visiting a new playground every time we went out. They’re still a little disappointed when we visit the same playground twice in a row.
Maybe they would be up for visiting every playground in Manhattan? Watch this space!
Photo credits: Helen McWilliam
AWNY | Australian Women in New York 