5 Best Playgrounds in New York City
Author: Emily Joseph
There are well over 200 playgrounds in New York City providing the widest possible variety of recreational opportunities for New York's tiniest residents and visitors to play in spaces that match their developmental and diversional needs. If you're new to New York or just visiting and have children, it can be a daunting task to figure our which playgrounds to take your children too. Listed below are 5 of the best playgrounds that both adults and children can enjoy, while feeling safe at the same time.
A playground in which most parents don't consider, but is totally geared for little ones, it 'The Glass Garden', it's one of New York's best kept secrets, located inside the Rush Rehabilitation Institute, in the public botanical garden. This 1700 square foot Glass Garden conservatory opened its doors in 1959 and was the first facility designed to be accessible to wheelchair bound people. The 'Children's PlayGarden,' is located on the north side of the conservatory, which integrates a playground, teaching garden, classrooms for children, families and friends, and a treatment clinic. The custom designed play components are not only fun, but therapeutic. On sunny days, the PlayGarden fills with rainbows projected by a revolving prism sculpture. The address is: 400 East 34th Street, Mon Fri 8am 5:30pm and Sat Sun 1pm to 5:30, admission is free for newborns up to age 6.
Battery Park City Parks - Hudson River, Battery to Chambers Street, hours are from dawn to dusk and its free all ages. North of the historic Battery Park is a gathering of some of the nicest small parks in the city. All are overseen by the Battery Park City Parks Conservancy. Rector Park, a quiet pair of postage-stamp-sized and dog free mini parks is where children's story times are offered. At the Kowsky Plaza just east of the Esplanade Plaza and South Cove, there is are small playgrounds, which in the summertime offers great ramps for pushing strollers or for releasing pint-sized energy. The Esplanade itself, located just south of the World Financial Center, is the best place to learn how to ride a tricycle, learn how to balance on roller blades or bicycle; the playground has a sand pit, two infant swings, small climbing structures and little mushroom tables.
Sprawling across the center of Manhattan, from 59th Street to 110th Street, and from Central Park West to Fifth Avenue, is Central Park, which offers over 843 acres of adventure. The South Section, entrance located on the corner of 59th and Fifth, is a path that leads straight into 'The Children's Section,' which covers the east side of the park up to 74th Street. This little area is extremely manageable and contains a variety of the attractions children adore the best: The Tisch Children's Zoo, The Wildlife Conservation and Zoo and the boat pond. There are statues of Alice in Wonderland and Hans Christian Anderson. Head south and find the 'Children's Glade,' a small clearing in the forest specifically designed as a venue for family programs.
Bleecker Park, Hudson, West 11th, and Bank Streets is open from dawn to dusk and is free for all ages. This historic playground, which was developed in 1960, was the first of its kind in the West Village. The playground features a climbing structure directly on top of the sand pit, swings and a 2nd smaller climbing section.
Riverside Park, is probably the best playground in all of Manhattan. Located on Riverside Drive, between 62nd and 153rd and open from dawn to dusk. This park stretches across 330 acres from 62nd to 158th Street. Its the best to take strollers and for its beautiful views. The park houses the city's cleanest and best playgrounds, the 'River Run Playground' was the winner of the 2008 Parent's Picks. Children can splash through the water canal (when in season), which is a replica of the Hudson River that bisects the playground and snakes around to a 35 foot sandbox where digging reveals layers of sculptures.
Visit www.luxurynewyorkcityhotel.com for more information on kid-friendly places to stay.
A playground in which most parents don't consider, but is totally geared for little ones, it 'The Glass Garden', it's one of New York's best kept secrets, located inside the Rush Rehabilitation Institute, in the public botanical garden. This 1700 square foot Glass Garden conservatory opened its doors in 1959 and was the first facility designed to be accessible to wheelchair bound people. The 'Children's PlayGarden,' is located on the north side of the conservatory, which integrates a playground, teaching garden, classrooms for children, families and friends, and a treatment clinic. The custom designed play components are not only fun, but therapeutic. On sunny days, the PlayGarden fills with rainbows projected by a revolving prism sculpture. The address is: 400 East 34th Street, Mon Fri 8am 5:30pm and Sat Sun 1pm to 5:30, admission is free for newborns up to age 6.
Battery Park City Parks - Hudson River, Battery to Chambers Street, hours are from dawn to dusk and its free all ages. North of the historic Battery Park is a gathering of some of the nicest small parks in the city. All are overseen by the Battery Park City Parks Conservancy. Rector Park, a quiet pair of postage-stamp-sized and dog free mini parks is where children's story times are offered. At the Kowsky Plaza just east of the Esplanade Plaza and South Cove, there is are small playgrounds, which in the summertime offers great ramps for pushing strollers or for releasing pint-sized energy. The Esplanade itself, located just south of the World Financial Center, is the best place to learn how to ride a tricycle, learn how to balance on roller blades or bicycle; the playground has a sand pit, two infant swings, small climbing structures and little mushroom tables.
Sprawling across the center of Manhattan, from 59th Street to 110th Street, and from Central Park West to Fifth Avenue, is Central Park, which offers over 843 acres of adventure. The South Section, entrance located on the corner of 59th and Fifth, is a path that leads straight into 'The Children's Section,' which covers the east side of the park up to 74th Street. This little area is extremely manageable and contains a variety of the attractions children adore the best: The Tisch Children's Zoo, The Wildlife Conservation and Zoo and the boat pond. There are statues of Alice in Wonderland and Hans Christian Anderson. Head south and find the 'Children's Glade,' a small clearing in the forest specifically designed as a venue for family programs.
Bleecker Park, Hudson, West 11th, and Bank Streets is open from dawn to dusk and is free for all ages. This historic playground, which was developed in 1960, was the first of its kind in the West Village. The playground features a climbing structure directly on top of the sand pit, swings and a 2nd smaller climbing section.
Riverside Park, is probably the best playground in all of Manhattan. Located on Riverside Drive, between 62nd and 153rd and open from dawn to dusk. This park stretches across 330 acres from 62nd to 158th Street. Its the best to take strollers and for its beautiful views. The park houses the city's cleanest and best playgrounds, the 'River Run Playground' was the winner of the 2008 Parent's Picks. Children can splash through the water canal (when in season), which is a replica of the Hudson River that bisects the playground and snakes around to a 35 foot sandbox where digging reveals layers of sculptures.
Visit www.luxurynewyorkcityhotel.com for more information on kid-friendly places to stay.
Article Source: http://www.a1articles.com/article_1526886_29.html