Holcombe Rucker Playground

155th and 8th Avenue

Located on the far Eastside of Manhattan, you can see Yankee's Stadium from Holcombe Rucker playground.  I like this playground because it has all the basics: Monkey Bars, Swings, Sprinkler.  The area is spacious and the bathroom in the vicinity is a plus.  The hard-rubber tiles are curling around the edges so be careful while playing running games (or if your with some new walkers).  The playground is located next to the Rucker's Basketball courts.  While we were there they were setting up for a night game, with announcers and all.  If you've never watched a streetball game in NYC than you are missing out.  The one problem that comes with the popular courts is the surplus of non-kid adults and litter.  

Highlights

• Bathrooms in Park • Next to Rucker's Basketball Courts

Lowlights

• Some Non-Kid Adults

What It's Got

• 6 Swings • 4 Baby Swings • Shower Sprinkler • Seal Statue • 3 Jungle Gyms • 7 Slides • Monkey Bars • 3 Rickety Bridges • Hard-Rubber Tile (Old and Curling)

What Parents/Nannies Should Know

• 60% Shaded • Plenty of Benches • Lots of Blindspots • Bathrooms in Park • 2 Entrances • Some Litter • Some Non-Kid Adults

Nearby

• Rucker's Basketball Courts

Ratings: (Out of 5)

Sarah: 

Lexi: 

"I like this place because they have swings.  Finally!"

Annie:  X 28 

"I like the seal and the swings."

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!"

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."