McCaffery Playground

43rd st between 7th and 8th Avenue (closer to 8th)

We went to the McCaffery Playground after checking out the Harry Potter Exhibit in Times Square (pretty cool if you have any Potter fans).  The playground was almost empty but I attribute this to the lunchtime hour.  The equipment is relatively new and unique.  Annie loved the monkey bar bridges because she could use them as low-level hanging bars. Lexi, on the other hand, was a little bored with the lack of "real" monkey bars.  The playground reminds me of that article in the New York Times, "Can a Playground Be Too Safe?". The jungle gyms were a few feet shorter than the older models and although Annie thrived in the setting, Lex abandoned most of the equipment and spent her time on the swings.  Because the playground is close to Times Square, a lot of non-kid-business-type-adults use the space as a place to eat lunch so make sure to keep a close eye on your belongings and your children.

Highlights

• Funhouse Mirror

Lowlights

• Broken Chain Climbing Net • Some Non-Kid Adults

What It's Got

• Sprinklers • 2 Jungle Gyms (1 Large, 1 Tots) • Funhouse Mirror • 4 Swings • 2 Baby Swings • 2 Slides • (2) Monkey Bar Bridge • Climbing Ropes • Hopscotch • Spiny Thing • Chain Climbing Net (Broken) • "Telephone" Speaker •Basketball Court • Trashcans • Working Water Fountain • Hard-Rubber Tile (Built into the ground)

What Parents/Nannies Should Know

• 1 Entrance • Bathroom Inside Playground • Benches/Stadium Seating • Two Levels • No Blindspots (If you sit in the middle) • Half Shaded • Some Non-Kid Adults

Nearby

• Shake Shack

Ratings: (out of 5)

Sarah:  

Lexi: 

"It's nice, but it'd be more funner if it had monkey bars."

Annie:  X 28 

"I can hang upside down!"

Bill Bojangles Robinson Playground

150th and 7th Avenue (West Side)

The girls and I were excited for the Bill Bojangles Robinson Playground because we love the name.  There's something about the word "Bojangles" that makes us giggle, like it is name of a circus mouse. The playground is fairly new and has a lot of unique equipment.  We loved the town storefronts (they have a mail slot!) which were perfect for a game of ice cream scooping.  The monkey bars were also easy for Annie to hold on to (with a little boost) and Lex spent a good amount of time hanging upside down.  The biggest flaw, and perhaps the downfall, of the playground is the ZERO shade.  There is no way to escape the brutal sun.  And with no water fountain to fill up our bottles, we didn't last long.

Highlights

• "Town" Storefronts

Lowlights

• NO Shade

What It's Got

• Jungle Gym • 3 Slides • Unique Monkey Bars • "Town" Storefronts • Rickety Bridge • Trashcans • Hard-Rubber Tile • Basketball Court • NO Water Fountain

What Parents/Nannies Should Know

• NO Shade • 1 Entrance • No Blindspots • Benches Around Half the Playground

Nearby

• 148th St Station (3 Train)

Ratings: (out of 5)

Sarah: 

Lexi: 

"I love those monkey bars but I'm sweaty!"

Annie"  X18

" I like the windows because I can sell ice cream with sprinkles and chocolate."

Frederick Johnson Playground

150-151st st and 7th Avenue

Whenever I get into a conversation about park hopping I am often asked "aren't you scared to go to some of those places?"  The answer is no, I'm not scared.  Mostly because I've got a good head on my shoulders and know better than to go places that aren't safe.  If we ever arrive at a park that gives me a funny feeling, we leave right away.  That being said, Frederick Johnson Playground is an example of how wrong you can be about places.  Wedged between a school and government houses, this playground is not a place the girls would ever get the chance to visit if it wasn't for our adventure.  The playground is more of a park, with chess tables and benches full of people chatting on phones or eating lunch.  In one corner a group of teenage girls practiced a dance routine, providing me hours of entertainment (why can't I dance like that??). And the girls had a blast.  They made friends and played some sort of cross between house and tag.  The concrete cylinders were also a lot of fun.  Annie wanted to climb up all by herself and then (with my assistance) jump down roughly a billion times.

Highlights

• Concrete Cylinders

Lowlights

• Multiple Entrances • Non-Kid Adults • Litter

What It's Got

• 2 Jungles Gyms (Both Tots) • Concrete Cylinders • 4 Slides • Sprinklers • Tennis Court • Trashcans • Hard-Rubber Tile/Pavement • Chess Tables • Camel

What Parents/Nannies Should Know

• Multiple Entrance • Non-Kid Adults • All Shaded • Litter • Plenty of Benches • Some Blindspots

Nearby

• Deli Across the Street 

Ratings: (out of 5)

Sarah: 

Lexi: 

"This park has two F's- friends and fun!!"

Annie:  X 28

"I like the camel because we can pretend to feed him apples and sunflowers."

Renaissance Playground

143-144th St, Between 7th and 8th Avenue

My heart hurts for the Renaissance Playground.  It's huge, it's got the right sized monkey bars, but it's dirty.  The playground is divided by a fence so naturally we parked our belongings on the benches in the middle.  We arrived around lunchtime but quickly discovered we couldn't eat because of the copious amount of flies eager to share our lunch.  The space for swings is a tease and also a testament to what the park seems to be-forgotten.  

Highlights

• Bathrooms In Park

Lowlights

• Filthy

What It's Got

• 3 Jungle Gyms • 5 Slides • 4 Bridges • Monkey Bars • Pull-Up Bars • Gymnast Rings • Seal Statue • Space for Swings (But none) • Working Water Fountain • Hard-Rubber Tile/Pavement • Trashcans

What Parents/Nannies Should Know

• Tons of Litter • 2 Entrances (143rd and 144th) • Bathrooms in the Park • 50 % Shaded 

Nearby

• Jackie Robinson Park

Ratings: (Out of 5)

Sarah: 

Lexi: 

"The monkey bars are just my height."

Annie: 

"Those flies go all over you and try to eat you!"

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."