Robert Bendheim Playground (Central Park)

100^th and 5^th Avenue

I really like this playground. Wedged between the Upper East Side and Harlem, this Central Park playground is hub of diversity.  The 3 jungle gyms are connected by bridges, which allow kids to run from one spot to the next.  And from this park hopping journey I have come to discover the greatness of jungle gyms with ramps.  The ramps allow tots to easily climb as well as let older kids run freely throughout the structure.  The openness of the playground makes the whole area visible and the surrounding trees bring in a plethora of shade.  I think after reviewing a slew of less-than-stellar places, the Robert Bendheim playground is a breath of fresh air.

Highlights

• Sprinkler Tunnel

Lowlights

• Sand from the sandbox is all over (and wet)

What It’s Got

• 2 Baby Swings • 1 Handicap Swing • Sandbox (With 2 Work Tables) • 3 Jungle Gyms (all connected by bridges) • 6 Slides • 2 Water Fountains • Sprinkler Tunnels • Hard Rubber Ground/Pavement

What Parents/Nannies Should Know

• Benches All Around • 1 Entrance • Bathrooms Inside Fence • Shady • Trashcans Outside Fence (and inside bathroom)

Nearby

• Starbucks

Ratings: (Out of 5)

Sarah: 

Lexi: 

Annie:  X 28

"The sprinklers almost look like stars.  Almost."

Ancient Playground (Central Park)

85th and 5th Avenue

I’ve seen this playground reviewed by several news sources.  Newly redone, this miniature concrete jungle is full of impressive structures and coves for kids to climb and explore.  This playground has all this classics as well as some tasteful touches (a waterfall!).  The girls and I spent all morning going between the tire swings and a game of hide and seek (I hid Annie and Lexi would find her).  This playground is great for older kids, but if you have more than one kid and a gap in age you might be in trouble.  When I mentioned Ancient Playground to my friend (mother of a 20 month old and a 4 year old) she said “I just can’t do that playground.  It’s too hard staying with the little one and keeping an eye on [the big one].”  The size (large) and shape (curvy oval) of the playground really make it tough for moms like her.  Also,  because the Met is so close be prepared for ogling tourists.  Sometimes I spot them standing outside the fence like it was a zoo exhibit, the main attraction being the NYC kid.  But come on, you’re next to the Met.  Spend the morning counting all the flowers in paintings and then blow off some steam at the Ancient Playground.  You can’t get more New York than that.

Highlights

• Next to the Met • Pyramids

Lowlights

• Lots of Blindspots • Ogling Tourists • Not Enough Shade

What It’s Got

• 2 Tire Swings • Shower Sprinklers • Waterfall Bridge • 2 Swings • 2 Baby Swings • 1 Handicap Swing • 4 Slides • 3 Jungle Gyms • Mini Sprinkler Area • Sandbox (Round with slides) • 1 Large Pyramid • 2 Small Pyramids • Monkey Bars • Chain Net • Plush Ground

What Parents/Nannies Should Know

•  Shade only around the edges • 1 Entrance (and it’s always open) • Bathrooms inside the park • Plenty of Benches • 2 Picnic Tables

Nearby

• The Metropolitan Museum of Art 

Ratings: (Out of 5)

Sarah: 

Lexi: 

Annie:  X 28

110th st and Cathedral Parkway (Central Park)

110^th st and Cathedral Parkway

I really want to say I like this park.  Dawned with all the latest equipment and tucked in the Northwest corner of Central Park, this playground should be in the running for a high rating. Ironically surrounded by the lush greenery, this park has NO shade. The metal and plastic equipment heats up to untouchable temperatures and the girls and I quickly become cranky as the sun beats on our heads.  Of course the girls never admit they are sun-cranky as they enjoy balancing on the rotating wheel or climbing through the spider web to eat their snacks on the suspended hammock.  But I know better than to let kids cook too long in the sun.  Also, my sister lives close by and has heard of a few theft incidents at the playground so make sure to watch your stuff.  On the plus side, you’re very close to the North Woods (a great place to explore nature) and Lasker Pool (a public pool in the summer with free lunches for kids  under 18 and a skating rink in the winter). 

Highlights

• Hammocks • Mini Rockwall

Lowlights 

•  No Shade • No Trashcans

What It’s Got

• Tire Swing • Rope Spider Web (With Hammocks) • 2 Spinney Poles • 1 Rotating Wheel • Shower Sprinklers • Sandbox • Mini Rockwall • 2 Small Slides • 4 Baby Swings • 1 Handicap Swing • 1 Mini Web With Fort Top • Mini Spinning Saucer  • Soft Rubber and Pavement • Working Water Fountain

What Parents/Nannies Should Know

• 1 Entrance • Trashcans Outside Fence • Plenty of Benches • No Shade

Nearby

•  Subway • Lasker Pool • Bathroom- The Charles A. Dana Discovery Center is the cottage-like building 5 minutes East of the park.  The bathrooms are not the cleanest, but any bathroom is better than no bathroom.


Ratings: (Out of 5)


Sarah: 

Lexi: 
"I like relaxing on the hammocks."

Annie:  X 18
"Sprinklers!"

Safari Playground

92nd st and Central Park West

For the kids:
-2 platform tree houses
-hippos!
-a boat (sunken in the ground)
-giant sprinkler shower
-working fountain










For me:
-view of the Reservoir
-2 picnic tables
-benches around half of the park
-no blindspots, mostly open space
-1/2 shaded
-trashcans outside of the playground
-closest bathrooms are in the tennis court building, a ten minute walk NorthWest
-pavement and rubber ground



My favorite part of the Safari Playground is the location.  Set atop a hill in Central Park, this very open playground has a feeling of seclusion. With almost no ogling tourists lining the outer-fence.  My second favorite part of this playground is the space.  With only three clusters of equipment (the two tree houses and the boat) the kids of plenty of space to run, kick a soccer ball, or draw a huge dinosaur in chalk. Also, the lack of equipment leaves kids to use their brains to have fun.  The girls and I sat in the boat and pretended to paddle down the Amazon River.  Suddenly we were surrounded by hippos and had to feed them sunflower seeds to keep them from trying to sit in the boat.  One of the hippos is hollow and kids LOVE climbing through his mouth and into his belly.  But be warned, fishing out your stubborn toddler from a hippo's stomach when it's time to go home can be rather difficult. The nearby reservoir is another fun location to check out.  Ducks swim in the water and lots of wild flowers grow around the path.  Ditch the stroller though because they are not allowed around the reservoir.
 I love this park....but please Central Park, put trashcans in the playgrounds! Especially near the picnic tables!

(Out of 5)



Sarah: 

Annie: 

Lexi:  

Wild West Playground (Central Park)

93rd and Central Park West

For the kids:
-2 tire swings (one is really low)
-bridge
- 3 slides (one down the fort!)
-fort
-pyramid steps (a little scary for babies)
-balance beams
-baby swings, big swings (4 each)
- river
-shower sprinkle
-monkey bars
-sand bottom surrounded by wood
-mini picnic table

For me:
-plenty of shade
-plenty of seats
-lots of blindspots
-closest bathrooms is the tennis courts, a 5 minute walk west.  You can just about see the concrete building from the park entrance.
-no trashcans
-one entrance
-working water fountain
-Whole foods is on 97th and Amsterdam (10-12 minute walk)




I really like this park.  The "Wild West" theme really brings out a lot of fun games.  Instead of playing the usual  "Ice Cream Store" the girls and I played "General Store."  We collected different things to trade (Lexi found the highest priced item--an unbroken water balloon) and took turns working for the store. The river running through the park is another great feature.  Annie and I took turns putting a leaf in beginning of the stream while the other person caught it downstream.  The wooden fence around the playground can be a lot of fun to walk across, but it also provides a lot of headaches with it's countless blindspots and easy-to-trip-over height.  The trees provide ample shading and did I mention you're in Central Park?!  Now if only they'd put trashcans inside the playground.

Sarah: 

Lexi: 

Annie: