Families can spend an entire day walking a mile along the Hudson River in Battery Park City and still not see it all. It's an outdoor adventure with highlights including three playgrounds, grassy fields and natural elements, and public art. There are also hidden gems and details easily missed -- and a new scavenger hunt will help you discover more.
Start at the playground near the southern end at West St. and West Thames St. (close to the Rector St. 1 Train stop). West Thames Park has a few fun climbing structures that will entertain both younger and older kids, and the backdrop of One World Trade Center makes it an extra-special spot in Lower Manhattan.
Heading slightly south and to the waterfront is South Cove, a public artwork that brings visitors out into the Hudson on an arching wooden jetty and then above it on a raised metal tower that recalls the crown of the nearby Statue of Liberty.
Also on the south side of the neighborhood is Kowsky Plaza Playground, a giant sandbox for little kids with a small play structure, baby swings, and fabulous views of the Hudson River – its location is somewhat hidden, perched above the promenade.
The next highlight is North Cove Marina where you may find sailboats and yachts, as well as Brookfield Place, where you will be surprised to encounter a grove of palm trees growing inside. Here is the likely place to stop for a snack, with a diverse food court as well as a French market for crepes, croissants, and ice cream.
Heading north is Rockefeller Park, acres of green space that has something for everyone: a unique playground, ping pong tables, basketball courts, open fields with big shade trees, and monuments to Ireland and Puerto Rico you can walk through. Unexpected are hundreds of bronze pennies and quirky figures hanging out in the far north corner of the park: Penny Park is always a wonder to visit.
Finally is Teardrop Park, a quiet hidden gem meant to evoke the Hudson Valley nestled between high-rises. The pocket park includes a 27-foot tall rock wall installation, one of the tallest slides in Manhattan, the most natural-looking splash pad, and a protected sloped lawn for picnics and scooting adventures.
What’s More? For BPC residents and visitors alike, a new scavenger hunt series created by a Lower Manhattan mom takes families on a wander, solving riddles, searching high and low, and seeing the neighborhood in a new way. Questing will have families stopping by three unique monuments, reading poems inscribed in unexpected places, and learning interesting facts about the places where they play.
An online Mini Quest purchase provides instant access to the mobile-phone scavenger hunt that starts at a coffee shop in South Battery Park and ends in a park in the north end. Completing all 13 questions (or a shorter version of 10) will take about an hour. Cleverly rhyming riddles use numbers, shapes, and compass directions to navigate across clues. For example: “Keep your eyes on the ground, to step over where 7 pennies can be found. Look down near the water and find a bronze shape with 6 sides, to tell me who is dreaming to fly.” The clues are challenging and fun for kids ages 7 to 11.
The Battery Park City Mini Quest provides families with a route to explore the neighborhood. There is no rush to complete it, so a mid-quest playground detour is likely. It is also likely that the Mini Quest will prompt families to continue exploring to find their own favorite spots -- there is so much to see in Battery Park City.
Mission Accomplished! After navigating the neighborhood and learning more about it, the Mini Quest takes you to the playground, where the kids will play and the adults will take a break, satisfied that they’ve enhanced the journey there. And the take-home prize? Questing sends out a certificate of completion in the mail, along with a map with the fun facts, and a keepsake embroidered patch depicting the neighborhood’s playground.
Questing was inspired by a local mom’s love of the City and its quirky history. What began as adult scavenger hunts (which are long and very challenging) has expanded to kid Mini Quests in Tribeca, Battery Park City, and the Seaport, with more to come. Our Play Patches’ love of the City and its playgrounds led to this collaboration on the embroidered patch prize.
$35 per team, including 1 embroidered patch. Best for kids ages 7 to 11 (younger siblings can happily join!)
Note: This article omits Wagner Park at the south end of the neighborhood. Beginning Spring 2023, Battery Park City Authority began demolishing the park in order to rebuild it on higher ground to protect against future sea-level rise and storms. The park will be closed for several years.
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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