Pier 6 water park, Brooklyn Bridge Park, by @mikepick is licensed with CC BY 2.0
11 of our favorite playgrounds in Brooklyn
If you have kids, you probably have your own neighborhood on lock. But here are a few to consider in case you're in a rut
Nothing sparks a child’s imagination quite like an innovative playground. It can turn your little ones into pirates, explorers, or a rock stars for a couple of hours (or at least 15 minutes). And Brooklyn has no shortage of unique playgrounds.
From a play area that invites kids to tackle a sweet climbing structure that teaches kids how a sugar factory works to a spot that lets parents cool off in the shade while their kids climb high, Brooklyn’s playgrounds are as diverse as the borough itself.
Take in sweeping views of the skyline in Williamsburg, revel in the fall foliage in Prospect Park as kids play in a natural setting, or let teens get their hearts pumping with a parkour course in Brownsville. Cool playgrounds can be found all throughout the borough.
Here are some of the best to check out while the weather still permits.
Pier 6 Playground, Brooklyn Bridge Park
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Neighborhood: Brooklyn Heights
Where to find it: Atlantic Avenue near Furman Street
Why kids will love it: This over-the-top playground is actually four play spaces in one. Climb through giant boulders to get to the top of Slide Mountain or fly through the air at Swing Valley (there are plenty of swings and ropes to satisfy any kid). Children can play house in one of the mini wooden homes at the Sandbox Village or cool off on a warmer day at the Water Lab, a multi-level splash pad filled with plenty of sprinklers and interactive water features.
Domino Park Playground
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Neighborhood: Williamsburg
Where to find it: River Street and South 1st Street
Why kids will love it: From taking in sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline to interactive climbing structures that bring kids on a journey through the entire sugar making process (the ducts are slides!), there’s no shortage of cool things to do in this park that was built on the site of the former Domino Sugar Refinery. The playground itself features wood reclaimed from the original refinery walls, aluminum molds made from salvaged valve wheels, and plenty of crawl spaces to encourage a child’s imagination to run wild.
Fort Greene Playground
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Neighborhood: Fort Greene
Where to find it: Willoughby Street and St. Edwards Street
Why kids will love it: Kids can put themselves right in the middle of American history at this playground, which was designed as a nod to the Revolutionary War history of Fort Greene. Climb into the “fortress” and plot imaginary offensives or learn about the area’s past by admiring the thirteen stone pillars, each with a bronze plaque featuring the state trees and animals of the original colonies.
Betsy Head Park
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Neighborhood: Brownsville
Where to find it: Dumont Avenue and Thomas S Boyland Street
Why kids will love it: This park just underwent a huge renovation, creating a multi-purpose play space that will appeal to kids of all ages. Younger kids will love the Imagination Playground, which uses large blue blocks to let kids construct whatever they can think of. While older kids can try their hand at the parkour teen fitness course, complete with plenty of places to climb and jump from, or hang out on the mini rock climbing wall. The park even features an accessible basketball court for those with physical and mental disabilities.
Main Street Playground, Brooklyn Bridge Park
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Neighborhood: Dumbo
Where to find it: Plymouth Street and Main Street
Why kids will love it: This nautical-themed playgrounds lets kids channel their inner sailor with a large climbing structure that looks like a giant sailboat with portholes to peek out of—even the sandbox is shaped like a boat. Kids can make up their best sailing tune and then take it across the grass to the East River where they can pretend to chart their next course.
Zucker Natural Exploration Area, Prospect Park
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Neighborhood: Prospect Park
Where to find it: Nellie’s Lawn, near Flatbush Avenue
Why kids will love it: This is not your typical playground and you won’t find traditional swings or slides. Instead, the play area was constructed from recycled materials from Prospect Park and trees that were damaged by storms. Kids will forget they’re in the middle of Brooklyn when they climb tree stumps and discover the magic of natural, unstructured play. Kids will find beech, elm, white oak, and red oak trees that have been either carved, sculpted, or left in their original form.
St. Mary’s Park
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Neighborhood: Carroll Gardens
Where to find it: Smith Street and Nelson Street
Why kids will love it: This colorful playground sits underneath the subway tracks and while it can get a bit noisy sometimes, the shade is a welcome respite on warmer summer and fall days. The park is filled with cool equipment like squiggly neon green ladders and ropes courses to play on. A few feet away sits a small skate park for kids to test their skills, complete with a mini-ramp and flat rail.
Cobble Hill Park
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Neighborhood: Cobble Hill
Where to find it: Clinton Street and Verandah Place
Why kids will love it: This old-school playground is small, but mighty, featuring a giant spider kids can climb onto and a sandbox with a dolphin statue in the middle for even more climbing opportunities. But the real charm of this playground is its location, surrounded by brick carriage homes and leafy blocks, featuring plenty of green space and benches to settle in on for an afternoon snack.
Harmony Playground, Prospect Park
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Neighborhood: Park Slope
Where to find it: Prospect Park West and 11 Street
Why kids will love it: This music-themed playground was inspired by the nearby Lena Horne Bandshell and celebrates music with play equipment that evokes instruments. Beyond its musical attributes, the playground features a large sandbox, extensive climbing structures, and swings.
J.J. Byrne Playground
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Neighborhood: Park Slope
Where to find it: Fifth Avenue and Third Street
Why kids will love it: Kids can sit on chickens and hang out with a horse at this Park Slope playground that has a veritable barnyard of animal cut-outs. Later, spend time on the large geometric climbing structure or go for a swing. Next to the playground sits the Old Stone House, which is a reconstruction of a Revolutionary War fixture originally built in 1699.
Canarsie Park
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Neighborhood: Canarsie
Where to find it: Seaview Avenue near East 80 Street
Why kids will love it: This playground features shady spots to play with slanted coverings above the climbing equipment. Run up and down the ramp or use one of the curved ladders to get up to the slide. Later, grab a spot on the grass just outside the playground for a nice fall picnic.
