Augustus St. Gaudens Playground

2nd Avenue Between 19th and 20th st

One of my favorite aspects of the Augustus St. Gaudens Playground is the plaque explain exactly who Augustus St. Gauden was.  There are so many parks in Manhattan named after people, it's nice to find out why.  This particular playground is close to the Asser Levy Recreation Center which dawns an outdoor pool in the summer (free, but don't forget to bring a lock!).  The girls and I worked up a sweat on the monkey bars before heading to the pool.  There is a basketball court next to the playground so expect a lot of loud teenagers arguing about cheap fouls.  As far as the playground itself, the equipment is average.  The wide open space makes scooter practice a great activity.  But I'm bothered by the plethora of baby swings and the absence of big kid swings.  It's getting harder and harder to convince Lexi it's not okay to try and sit in the holsters.

Highlights

• Four Square/Hopscotch • Large

Lowlights

• Not Enough Shade

What It's Got
• 6 Baby Swings • Shower Sprinkler • 2 Jungle Gyms (1 Large, 1 Tots) • 3 Slides • Monkey Bars • Gymnast Rings • Bridge • Hopscotch ª Four Square • Hard-Rubber Tile/Pavement • Trashcans

What Parents/Nannies Should Know
• 60% Shade • Plenty of Benches • Bathrooms Inside Gates • 1 Entrance

Nearby
•  First Avenue (Plenty of bodegas and cheap eats)

Ratings: (Out of 5)

Sarah: 

Lexi: 

"It's nice and quiet here. And the sprinklers are nice."

Annie:  X 18

"I like running on the bridge this way and that way and this way like this!"

Vincent F. Albano/Mary Collins Playscape

29th St and 2nd Avenue

This particular playground is called a playscape, I'm guessing because it is elevated from the rest of the park. Because there are lots of non-kid adults using the park space, the separation is a good thing.  The playground is small and quiet which can be a good thing.  We had the whole space to ourselves so there was no line at the gymnast rings.  Sometimes if there is another kid waiting Annie will feel too pressured and not enjoy swinging her feet as much.  The lack of benches in the playscape really bothered me.  We had to put our stuff on the ground and we didn't stay for snack.

Highlights

• Mostly Shaded • No Blindspots

Lowlights

• Lots of Non-Kid Adults

What It's Got

• 1 Jungle Gym • 2 Slides • Rickety Balance Beam (with handlebars) • Pull-Up Bars • Gymnast Rings • Trashcans •Working Water Fountain • Hard Rubber Tile • Handball Court

What Parents/Nannies Should Know

• Mostly Shaded • Benches Not on Playscape • 2 Entrances (1 goes to handball court) • Elevated "Playscape" • Lots of Non-Kid Adults

Nearby

• Kips Bay Movie Theater

Ratings: (Out of 5)

Sarah: 

Lexi: 

"It's okay, quiet."

Annie:  X 28

"I like the balance beam.  I like how it rocks."

Ruppert Playground

90th-91st and 2nd Ave

Ruppert Playground is the place to be on the Upper East Side.  This playground is crawling with child and their caregivers.  Lots of kids means lots of playmates, but it also means little bench room and lots of chaos.  The playground area is elevated from the rest of the park but there is no clear entrance to the kids' area.  I had to talk to Annie and Lexi about running out of sight because there were plenty of places for them to do so.  For the amount of people going to the park I don't think it's that big of a deal.  The biggest attraction is the shade and the connecting car-less 91st street.  The girls and I went to the blocked off street and race tennis balls down the hill.  We were worn out in minutes.  

Highlights

• Connecting Car-less Street (91st) 

Lowlights

• Noise from Construction • Different Levels

What It's Got
• Circle of Spray Sprinklers • 2 Jungle Gyms (Both Smaller) • 5 Slides • Chess Tables • Driver Wheels • Trashcans • Elevated Play Are • Hard-Rubber Tile/Pavement

What Parents/Nannies Should Know
• Many Entrances • Multiple Levels • Benches Around Edges, But Not Enough • Well-Shaded (90%) • Lots of Blindspots • Crowded • Non-Kid Adults

Nearby
• BAE • Dunkin Donuts • Delizia Pizza


Ratings: (Out of 5)

Sarah: 

Lexi: 

"It's nice and shady here which is good because you forgot our hats."

Annie:  X 28 

"I drew the biggest rainbow and used lots of colors but now we have no more chalk."

William McCray Playground

138th st Between Lennox and 5th Avenue

I have a few nice things to say about the William McCray Playground.  It was clean, it was large, and it had a great jungle gym for new walkers.  Now that that's been said, I can tell you what I didn't like.  The playground was very empty and hot.  With little shade and nothing around, this park was not a destination we stayed at long.  If you're in the area, I suggest going to the Fred Samuel Playground.

Highlights

• Great Walking Bars For Babies

Lowlights

• Eerily Empty • Not a lot of Shade

What It's Got

•  Basketball Court • Chess Tables • 2 Swings • 2 Baby Swings • 3 Jungle Gyms (Big, Medium, Tots) • Walking Bars • 6 Slides • Monkey Bars • Tic Tac Toe • 2 Bridges • Shower Sprinkler (Separate Area) • Few Trashcans • Har-Rubber Tile/Pavement

What Parents/Nannies Should Know

• Not Enough Benches • 40% Shade • 1 Entrance

Nearby

• The East River • Closest Bodegas on Lennox

Ratings: (Out of 5)

Sarah: 

Lexi: 

"The mini house is cute."

Annie:  

"Can we go back to the park with the ropes?"

Fred Samuel Playground

139-140th and Lennox

After going to several old playgrounds with chipped jungle gyms and rusty swings, Fred Samuel playground was a breath of fresh air.  This park is definitely neighborhood hang out.  There are people of all ages in the park and that makes the overall atmosphere pleasant.  The children section is toward the back of the park and it is new and fun.  Similar to the Hudson River Park  playground, Fred Samuel has something for everyone.  Because of the popularity of the park there is some litter, but a staff on hand was there with a broom and a dustbin. 

Highlights

• Newly Redone

Lowlights

• Tons of Non-Kid Adults • Some Litter

What It's Got

• 2 Swings • 4 Baby Swings • 2 Slides • Monkeys Bars • 1 Jungle Gym • 1 Rope Climbing Section • Spray Sprinklers (big section) • hammocks • Basketball Court • Exercise Section  • Trashcans • Hard-Rubber Tile

What Parents/Nannies Should Know

• Bathrooms Inside Park • Staff • 2 Entrances • Plenty of Benches • Lots of Non-Kid Adults • No Blindspots In Play Area • Some Litter

Nearby

Ratings: (Out of 5)

Sarah: 

Lexi: 

"I like the spraying sprinklers."

Annies:  X 28

"When I was little I liked climbing on the ropes."

Howard Bennett Playground

135-136th st and Lennox Ave

As a direct result of park hopping the girls and I have discovered we like maps in playgrounds.  They are a source of constant entertainment whether we are jumping from one continent to another or obeying traffic of the painted roads.  Howard Bennet Playground has an awesome neighborhood map (a little old a weathered) as well as a staggering 6 different jungle gyms.  An attached tennis court and a few chess tables attract some non-kid adults, so make sure to keep an extra eye out.  The playground is wedged in the middle of the Harlem Hospital Center, so there's not much going on around you.  There are, however, plenty of bodegas and a grocery store within a block.  I like to buy bodega sandwiches because they tend to be cheaper the higher you go in Manhattan.  Overall, this playground gained a lot of points because there was a park staff member.  

Highlights

• Big • Staff • Map of the Neighborhood

Lowlights

• Non-Kid Adults

What It's Got

• 2 Swings • 2 Baby Swings • 5 Jungle Gyms (Including a separate Tots) • 6 Slides • Shower Sprinkler • 2 Monkey Bars • Various Pull-Up Bars • Map of the Neighborhood • Chess Tables • "Telephone" Speakers • Musical Pulleys • Tennis Courts • Handball Courts • Trashcans • Hard-Rubber Tile/Pavement • Working Water Fountain

What Parents/Nannies Should Know

• 1 Entrance • Bathrooms Inside Gates • Some Blindspots (the park is big) • Some Non-Kid adults • All Shade

Nearby

• 2/3 Subway Station

Ratings: (out of 5)

Sarah: 

Lexi: 

Annie:  X 18

"I like talkin' in the speaker things."