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!"

Tompkins Square Park (Avenue B)

Avenue B and 7th St

I don't have much to say about this playground, except that out of the three in Tompkins Square Park this one is the worst. Old and severely chipped, no shade on the equipment, and a fake tire swing all account for this park's low rating.  Honestly, this park feels forgotten. Honestly, I won't mind forgetting this park exists. 

Highlights

• Quiet

Lowlights

• Empty • Very Chipped

What It's Got

•  1 Large Jungle Gym • 2 Slides • Tire Swing (Fake Swing/Too High) • Fire Poles • Bridge • Trashcans • Hard-Rubber Ground

What Parents/Nannies Should Know

• 1 Entrance • Benches around half the park • No Blindspots • Shade Only Around Edges

Nearby

• 7A (try the tuna melt or the mozzarella sticks) • Bathrooms in the Northern end of the park, between Ave. A and B, north of the dog park

Ratings: (Out of 5)

Sarah: 

Lexi: 

"That tire swing was lame."

Annie: 

"I only like that little slide."

Tompkins Square Park (Between A and B)

7th st between Avenues A and B

One of the two "other" playgrounds in Tompkins Square Park, this particular one is colorful and quiet at best.  Again, I'm not sure who decided to use fake tires for the tire swings, but they tip over instantly if only one child tries to swing.  The hard-rubber tiles are starting to curl at the edges, so be careful not to trip.  That being said, the girls had fun here.  We had the whole place to ourselves which made a game of hide and seek a lot more comfortable.  But let's be honest, if you are going to go to Tompkins Square, chances are you are going to visit the state-of-the-art playground merely yards away. 

Highlights

•  Very Shaded • Quiet

Lowlights

• Empty • Dinky

What It's Got

• Tire Swing (Fake Swing) • Slide • Balance Beam • Bridge • Monkey bars • Trashcans • Hard-Rubber Tile/Pavement Ground 

What Parents/Nannies Should Know

• Mostly Shaded • 1 Entrance • Dirty (Litter on the ground) • Plenty of Benches

Nearby

• 7A (try the tuna melt or the mozzarella sticks) • Bathrooms in the Northern end of the park, between Ave. A and B, north of the dog park

Ratings: (Out of 5)

Sarah: 

Lexi: 

"I wish the tire swing swung!"

Annie:  X 18

"I like to hide under the bridge like a troll!"

Tompkins Square Park (Avenue A)

Avenue A between 8th and 9th st

Tompkins Square Park happens to be one of my favorite places in Manhattan.  The hodgepodge of local bongo drummers, veteran punk rockers, dog park regulars, and young families makes the park a microcosm of the city at large.  And don't even get me started on this playground.  Redone a few years ago, this Tsquare playground is by far the best of the three and really the only one worth visiting.  The jungle gyms are covered in rock-climbing pegs, leaving no surface unclimbable. The array of monkey bars, ladders, and ropes provide hours of entertainment for any age.  Although the tire swings aren't the greatest and although the sandbox tends to be a little muddy and very hard to monitor from certain vantage points, the playground makes up for its downfalls in the rest of its awesome equipment.  And for those of you nervous about big kids barreling over your little tot, no worries, the two tot jungle gyms are separated.  Every time we come to this park the girls talk about it for days.  That being said, there are some big downfalls.  Tompkins Square Park is in the middle of a large rat infestation.  I have not seen any in the playground area, but I have not been there around dusk.  I have been in the park (sans girls) at that time and I can vouch for the daring pests darting in front of picnic blankets and park benches, so the infestation of the playground is not hard to believe.  Also, be aware of the homeless population of the park.  I have never seen any sketchy people enter the playground area, but I have seen a lot of shady things go on outside the gates.  Overall, the playground is awesome.  However, the surrounding chaos definitely factors into its overall quality.

Highlights

• Rock-Climbing Walls Everywhere 

Lowlights
• Apparent Rat Infestation • Crappy Tire Swings

What It's Got

• 4 Jungle Gyms (2 Big, 2 Tots) • 2 Tire Swings (tilt too much) • Interactive Sprinklers • Sandbox With Stream Above (makes a lot of wet sand) • 4 Swings • 4 Baby Swings • Various Level Pull-Up Bars • Hammocks • Rock Walls (Tons!) • Funky Monkey Bars • Working Water Fountain • Trashcans • Soft-Rubber/Pavement Ground

What Parents/Nannies Should Know

• 2 Entrances (on opposite sides) • 60% Shaded • Sandbox is one big blindspot • Plenty of Benches

Nearby

• Bathroom in the park, between Ave. A and B, north of the small dog park • St. Marks (lots of cheap food, fun shops) • Veniero's Bakery (get a bunch of the small pastries to go, they sell them by weight so avoid heavy items such as the cheesecake to keep the cost down.  I love the mini eclairs!)

Ratings (out of 5)

Sarah: 

Lexi: 

"I just love the monkey bars!"

Annie:  X 28 

"I liked hanging on the bars because I can reach!"

Notice how the "tire" swing is a fake, hard plastic tire.  Not nearly as sturdy and easily tipped.