Worth A Trip! Climbing to the top of this playground’s huge, steep, slippery metal dome is one of the greatest playground challenges in New York City. It’s worth stepping a few blocks north of Lower Manhattan for this feature and more, especially for older kids.
The playground has two main sections. One is for toddlers and young children, which has familiar playground equipment. For older kids, the dome is among a variety of unique free-standing structures.
For the younger children, there is a long U-shaped climbing structure with a series of interconnected platforms that are no taller than 5-feet off the ground. There are different types of ladders to climb up and two slides and fire poles to get down. Inside the sandbox, there is plenty of space for digging and a frog and turtle to climb on. In a separate gated area behind the sandbox, there are five baby swings and a universal swing.
Older kids have many options to climb, twirl, and slide. Kids take shoes off, make a running start to propel themselves up the shiny dome, and eventually stand on top victoriously. It’s not easily accomplished, even for older kids, and it’s also risky – injuries have been reported here. There are two metal slides that are steeper than most we know. A short, steep tunnel slide is built into boulders. While there are no monkey bars, older kids can use their arm strength to hang on as long as they can while they are twirled on a bar around a pole. Other unique features are the tall polls to sway back-and-forth on, and a free-standing corkscrew climbing structure.
What’s More? The playground is one feature of Union Square Park, which was built one hundred and eighty years ago, and named for its location at the intersection (or union) of Broadway and Fourth Avenue. It is worth exploring, especially when there are events (like concerts and kids activities during warmer weather hosted by the Union Square Partnership and during the City’s largest and best-known greenmarket (year-round, Monday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday). And, there are always free-form and impromptu activities in Union Square, with folks performing, playing chess, or protesting. More information about the history of Union Square Park can be found here.
Snack Time/Coffee Break? There is a picnic table in the little kid section, and shaded benches, walls and steps for seating. Exploring the green market for healthy snacks and baked treats is the best option. A half-block down 16th St. is Breads Bakery for coffee, baked goods, sandwiches and salads. For a special treat nearby there is Kellogg’s NYC, a place my kids beg to return to for the create-your-own cereal bar with ice-cream-sundae-inspired toppings.
Visibility/Safety: The playground is long and narrow, with younger and older sections separated by fences. It is impossible to see both sides at once, and it is even difficult to keep track of kids within the bigger section. There are two ways to get in (or out) of the playground. The gates seem to always be closed but they are not easily visible from all points of play. The equipment is in good shape and though the soft floor tiles were replaced a few years ago there are some gaps and tiles are lifting that could cause a trip.
Bathroom Emergency: There is a bathroom with one stall and a changing table within the playground. Fall-back public bathrooms at Barnes & Noble, Starbucks, and Whole Foods are nearby.
Features: Slides, baby swings, universal swing, sandbox, special climbing features, picnic tables, nearby snacks.
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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