Teardrop Park

Park Place West (Between River Terrace and North End)

I first heard of Teardrop park from my mom-friend, Caroline.  She told me there was a slide in Manhattan that shoots kids out like bullets, faster than all the others.  Behold, the girls and I found it.  The playground in Teardrop park is unfenced and in the middle of a grassy field, a rock waterfall, and two tall buildings.  There is no clear "Playground" sign and this is just one of the reasons why this park feels "secret." For the record, when wet, the slide really does shoots kids out like bullets.  Out of the three of us, only Lexi was brave enough to go down.  Watching her fly down the slide, into the sandpit, and land mere feet from a giant boulder sent my nerves on end.  I felt calmer after the second and then the third, once I knew she was nowhere near harms way.  I must stress that she is almost seven and a gymnast and ballerina, so please stand in the catcher's stance while your kids are going down the Teardrop slide.  From the picture you can clearly see how small an adult looks next to the slide, this thing is huge!  Also, the rock cove on the second level is a great water park for youngsters and bigger kids alike.  Don't forget to bring a bucket or use an old tupperware/water bottle.



Highlights
• Gigantic Slide • "Secret" feel

Lowlights
• Blindspots • Multiple Entrances


What It's Got
• Gigantic Slide • Sandpit • Rock Cove (with Sprinklers) • Boulders • Trashcans • Water Fountain (Says delayed reaction, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't work)


What Parents/Nannies Should Know
• No clear entrance/exit, but secluded • 2 Levels with lookout spot to see lower level • All Shaded • The slide goes fast!

Penny Park

 River Terrace between Warren and Chambers (Behind Stuyvesant Highschool)

If you're familiar with Tom Otterness and his lovable, cartoonish sculptures than you know that a park featuring his art will have it's own magical feel.  Penny Park is hidden behing Stuyvesant Highschool, in the Northern tip of Battery Park.  Although I love the playground's relaxing and quiet vibe, I can't forget I have an almost-seven-year-old who loves to swing and climb on the monkey bars.  That being said, this park, though beautiful, is for the younger crowd.  The littler ones love climbing the statues and following the path of pennies.  And funny enough, I couldn't get Annie away from the water fountain.  She loved the statue-stepping-stool that makes drinking water an independent task for a four year-old.


Highlights
• Kid-Friendly Water Fountain • Awesome Tom Otterness Statues • Close By Field

Lowlights
• Not a lot for big kids

What It's Got
• Penny-themed Sculptures • Moat • Chess Tables • Trashcans • Kid-Friendly Water Fountain • Pavement

What Parents/Nannies Should Know
• All Shade • Plenty of Benches/Ledges

What's Nearby
• Battery City Park • Public Restrooms in the Southern building between Warren and Murray


Ratings: (Out of 5)

Sarah: 

Lexi: 

"There's not a lot of excitement" 

Annie: 

"I can reach the water fountain!"

Washington Market Park

310 Greenwich St, between Chambers and Duane St.

The girls and I spend hours at Washington Market Park.  Spanning 3 acres, this park is ridiculously pleasant, shady, and entertaining.  The playground takes up the entire Eastside of the park and it's hard to see one end from the other.  The Northside is dedicated to the younger crowd while the South-side dawns the massive red jungle gym.  To move from one section of the park to another you must snake through a series of cement walls or go through the "secret" tunnel.  This might be a little hard with the stroller, but no worries because there is a path right next to the playground.  Because the playground, the open field, and BMCC all share the park's space, the area is a hodgepodge of nannies, kids, students, professors, and people on their lunchbreaks.  I could go on for hours about how great this park is, especially since there are tons of other playgrounds in close proximity.

Highlights
• Gazebo • Open Field • Huge!!! • Attatched to BMCC


Lowlights
• Tons of Blindspots • Lots of Entrances


What It's Got
• 2 Tunnels • Sprinkler • River • 3 Jungle Gyms (one shaped like a ship!) • Wooden Train • 4 Slides • Monkey Bars • Trashcans • Water Fountain • Picnic Tables • Gazebo • Open Field • Plush Ground

What Parents/Nannies Should Know
• Plenty of Shade • Plenty of Benches/Ledges • Multiple Entrances • Tons of Blindspots • Bathroom in BMCC

What's Nearby
• The Hudson River • Penny Park • Battery City • McDonalds • Fruit carts (on Chambers on Greenwich)

Ratings (Out of 5)

Sarah:  

Lexi: 

Annie:  X 28

Imagination Playground

Burling Slip, Between Front St and John St

That famous Imagination Playground.  If you live in New York City you've probably heard of it.  Even if you don't live in the city, there's a chance you know what it is.  Designed by artist David Rockwell and costing a whopping $7.4 million, the state-of-the-art playground is the "play of the future."  However, I'm still scratching my head at 7.4 million dollars.  I don't understand how a slide or some sand can cost so much.  That being said, the equipment and staff (yes, this playground has staff) are both above par.  I'm just not sure if it's worth the trip downtown.  One thing I really liked about the park is the "surprise" sprinklers.  The girls and I laughed so hard when a dripping faucet because a jet stream and soaked our swimsuits.

Highlights
• Giant sandpit • Foam building blocks • Playground Staff • Bathrooms inside the playground

Lowlights
The is close to zero shade.  Even so close to the water, the playground becomes baking hot. Also, the water section is remarkably small for such a large space.


What It's Got
• Sprinklers • Baby Pool • 2 Forts • Massive Sandbox • Slide • Hammocks • Trashcans

What Parents/Nannies Should Know
• No Shade
• No blindspots
• Not enough shade
• Sprinklers may spout more water than they appear!

In the Area 
Right next to the South St Seaport.  For $10 (children under 2 or free) you can board an old ship or grab a quick meal at one of the many restaurants.  Also close by is the Police Museum, a hidden gem amongst "kid friendly" museums.  

Ratings (Out of 5)


Sarah: 

Lexi: 

Annie:   X 28