Stop by if you’re nearby! This no-frills Lower Manhattan Playground between downtown courthouses and Chinatown is part of a vibrant community park, and it serves well as a pitstop when exploring the neighborhood.
There are two, nearly identical play structures on either side of the playground, which are best suited for the elementary-school crowd. Each has a succession of straight monkey bars and hanging rings that can be a challenge to conquer. These bars may be too high to reach, requiring a boost for little ones to latch on. Ladders and steps lead to platforms, with a descent by mid-height double straight slides, higher twisty slides, or a couple of fire poles. One structure has a chain ladder; the other an arched ladder that leads straight to the highest platform.
Between the two play structures is a wide span of asphalt, and dividing the playground further is an expansive, geometrically-shaped shallow recess – part sculpture, part pool – with a bridge across the middle. On one end are two water sprays, which could potentially flood the pool for summertime splashing. But, in all the times we have visited this playground, the pool has always been dry, and my girls make an obstacle course of running along the perimeter of the red walls.
This playground also has three baby swings and a universal-access swing. There is a permanent ping-pong table in one corner.
Installed twenty years ago, the bright red, orange and yellow equipment in this playground remains lively, though dated. In a strange juxtaposition, it is situated directly across the street and in view of a busy funeral home.
Visibility/Safety? There are unobstructed views across the playground for keeping track of kids in different areas. The three gates of the playground seem to be always wide open, and so the playground is used as a short-cut for pedestrians to the other side. We’ve also seen the open spaces within the playground used by unaccompanied adults for stretching and exercising.
Bathroom Emergency? There is a staffed Parks Department building next to the playground, with small restrooms and no changing table. We were instructed to head a block north within the park to the community center with additional facilities.
Snack Time/Coffee Break? This Playground is in a prime spot for snacking and exploring. For a quick cup of coffee and a sandwich, Sam’s Deli is directly across the street. For more: “We like to stop [at this playground] when chillin’ at Eggloo [waffles filled with ice cream], Chinatown Arcade, Chinatown Ice Cream Factory and 10 Below [rolled ice cream] close by,” says Diana Franzese, who visits every kid-friendly event in the New York region with her young son, and posts about it @NYC_Mami_on_the_move_pics. Our favorite? Made to order pork dumplings, five for $1.25, at the no-frills Fried Dumpling on Mosco Street. We also window shop on Mulberry St. to see Chinese ceramics and herbal medicines, and fill a bag with sweets and unusual treats like dried seaweed and cuttlefish from the Aji Ichiban store (my favorite Chinatown stop when I was a kid). Best of all? I discovered directly across the street from the playground (and next to the funeral home) a discrete Japanese restaurant. Returning a few nights later, my husband and I experienced a high-end Omakase sushi bar, innovative Izakaya and a funky, hand-crafted cocktail bar in the basement. Playgrounds are our jumping-off point to explore!
Features: Slides, baby swings, universal access swing, monkey bars, water sprays, shade, benches, bathrooms, nearby coffee & snacks.
What’s More? Columbus Park is one of the City’s oldest, built at the end of the 19th century in what had been the notoriously dirty and dangerous “Five Points” tenement neighborhood of European immigrants. The larger park surrounding the Playground includes well-maintained basketball courts, a turf soccer field, and a large set of adult exercise bars. The paths within the park are lined with plantings, benches, and tables. It is known as a gathering place for local Chinese residents, who can be found playing traditional games and music. “It’s always entertaining at Columbus Park…. It’s always nice to walk down the block from all the court buildings and find a whole other world and community,” says Franzese. Many events, hosted by various community organizations, take place here. More information on the history of the park can be found HERE.
Gianna Abruzzo is a Brooklyn-born adventurer with nearly ten years of experience exploring playgrounds – in Lower Manhattan, around NYC, and in eleven more countries – with her three daughters. Gianna seeks to share a sense of community and pride in the places we play. Follow her on Instagram
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