Robert Moses Playground

41st-42nd st & 1st Avenue

Robert Moses Playground is lacking in the "playground" department.  Only a road away from the East River, the location is great but the equipment is lacking.  We schlepped over from 42nd st, scooters, backpacks, sun hats and all, only to find an empty hockey court (is it a rink if it's pavement?).  Upon further inspection we found a fairly clean bathroom and an empty basketball court but for my two monkey bar addicts there was "nothing here."  There are two things to do in this situation: invent a game to play or hop to the next park.  The girls and I decided to play "line tag," a game where you must stay on the painted lines of the basketball court and move as quickly as you can away from whomever is "it."  We also came prepared with sidewalk chalk so we drew our own hopscotch and spent a good amount of time perfecting our in-park hopping skills.  The moral of the Robert Moses Playground is that although a seemingly empty space can look oh-so-boring at first glance, take a second look and you might find yourself inventing all new ways to play. 

Highlights

• East River/U.N View

Lowlights

• No Jungle Gyms

What It's Got

• Basketball Court • Handball Court • Hockey Court • Bathrooms • Dog Park

What Parents/Nannies Should Know

• 40% Shaded

Nearby

• U.N • St. Vartan Playground

Ratings: (out of 5)

Sarah:  

Lexi: 

"There's nothing here!"

Annie:  

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."