Worth a Trip: With hanging wooden bridges, cargo-strap hanging nets, a pedal-powered carousel, and plenty of shady benches, the playground at Rockefeller Park is a gem on its own. That it is in the heart of Battery Park City’s waterfront community makes it a destination playground of Lower Manhattan.
The 30-year-old playground was recently rebuilt from the ground with an exact replica construction from a time before plastic factory-built playgrounds. Four separate climbing structures are appropriate for different age groups, with platforms, bridges, slides, and nets progressively taller for each. For infants/toddlers, the structures are just inches off the ground, and there are two baby swings, as well. At the other end, the tallest two fire polls leave me holding my breath as I can hardly reach the open platform where kids step out, grab on, and slide down the pole. Older kids with long-enough legs power the pedal carousel as fast as they can, or parents take turns holding on and running to spin it around.
There is plenty of sand and water (which, mixed together, gets particularly messy here). One stand-alone sandpit is great for digging; another softens the landing from two slides and jumps off mid-sized platforms; a third is at standing height. Kids across ages get wet together at the concrete hippopotamus, elephant, and dog-head water-spraying sculptures. Separately, a moat forms around the quirky bronze dodo bird sculpture (by acclaimed artist Tom Otterness), where the littlest ones splash.
Visibility/Safety? The playground is fairly compact with mostly clear sightlines from north to south. From any spot, I can see nearly all sections of the playground at once, keeping an eye on the older kids while I chase the younger ones. Kids can’t easily leave the fence that surrounds two-thirds of the playground, and the two gates are near each other, highly visible, and informally guarded by nearby adults. On the other hand, my older daughter recently jumped over a stone wall on the east side of the playground adjacent to the sidewalk, in a heated game of hide-and-seek. Most of the ground is made of black rubberized tiles; the playground is well maintained with no hazards/repairs seen at the time of writing. One warning: the squirrels hanging around the fence are aggressive, and have been seen stealing food out of strollers!
Bathroom Emergency? The Battery Park City Authority maintains clean, well-lit public bathrooms with several stalls, a couple of kid-sized sinks, and changing table. This is located across the street, about a 5-minute walk, at the northwest corner of 20 River Terrace.
Snack Time/Coffee Break? There are plenty of shady benches and four picnic tables in the playground to sit for a snack. Blue Stone Coffee is just across the street heading east, and a half-block farther behind the Conrad Hotel is a commercial alleyway anchored by Shake Shack, with an upscale deli, bagel shop, and other restaurant options. A few minutes south of the playground there is a ferry dock with a newsstand stocked with snacks and ice cream pops (and more public bathrooms). A few minutes farther south are the restaurants and food court options of Brookfield Place.
What’s More? There is so much more outside the playground gates in the greater Rockefeller Park, maintained by the Battery Park City Authority (BPCA). Just in front is a grassy patch where giant foam lawn toys are spread out to share, and a Parkhouse that lends out board games, ping pong, knock hockey, and more. Farther north are big-kid swings, hand and basketball courts, and an expansive open lawn. BPCA also organizes lawn games and high-quality art projects weekly at Rockefeller Park, as well as a wide variety of free programming for families throughout the year. Hidden among apartment buildings across the street is Teardrop Park, with one of the tallest slides in the City, rocks to climb and jump, and a nature path, where for a moment kids feel they are hiking in a forest. Also unique: the Irish Hunger Memorial next door; views of the Statue of Liberty and One World Trade Center; and the ferries, sailboats, and occasional cruise ship passing by on the Hudson River. Unsurprisingly, this playground is often on “Best of” lists in publications across the City.
Features: baby swings, nearby big-kid swings, slides, sandpits, water sprays, plenty of shade, benches, picnic tables, nearby public bathroom, nearby coffee & snacks, and special views.
Gianna Abruzzo is a Brooklyn-born mom of three daughters living in Lower Manhattan. You can find her family downtown and around town, exploring new playgrounds, treat spots, and NYC’s diverse arts and culture. She is the creator of Our Play Patches. Follow her on Instagram
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