Parks and Playgrounds

Just because we live in a concrete jungle doesn't mean our kids can't enjoy a summer filled with great outdoor spots. And you don't even need to be a Hilton to afford them.

New York City offers many opportunities for city kids to learn team sports, swimming, tennis, golfing, fishing, kayaking, hiking and more at no cost. Of course registering for these free programs takes a little legwork and, since many of them are first-come, first-serve, punctuality. We've got the scoop on what's available, and how your kids can vie for spots.

Recently we received an email asking if we knew about any outdoor volunteering opportunities for New York City families this spring. The timing was perfect since this Saturday, May 19 is It's My Park Day. Organized by Partnership for Parks and held twice a year in the spring and fall, It's My Park Day brings together thousands of NYC volunteers looking to help spruce up their neighborhood green spaces. It's an awesome initiative and a great way to teach your kids about the importance of giving back to your community. After all, these are the parks they play in!

There are It's My Park Day events throughout the five boroughs. In addition to cleaning, weeding and other chores, many gatherings feature arts and crafts, giveaways and a celebratory atmosphere. We’ve got the details about how to get involved with It's My Park Day, as well as other ways your family can volunteer outdoors in the city this spring.

A few months ago when we were spotlighting Park Slope, we mentioned how much we were looking forward to the reopening of J.J. Byrne Playground. After a year of work and many millions of dollars, the revamped play spot debuted last Friday and my four-year-old daughter and I went to check it out.

Due to its location in Washington Park next to the historic Old Stone House, the playground has a Colonial theme. My kid had a blast exploring this marvelous playground and so did I. As you can see from our slide show, a lot of the equipment is just as much fun to look at as play on.

When planning our spotlight on Dumbo this month, we knew we would have to include a post about the fantastic Brooklyn Bridge Park, even though it extends beyond the neighborhood. Formerly a massive freight terminal, the 1.3-mile East River waterfront green space stretches from historic Vinegar Hill to genteel Brooklyn Heights.

While much of the 85-acre park is still under construction, there are already lots of things to do here. Strolling through the park is a transporting experience: The marshes, rocky outcrops and grassy lawns make you feel like you've left NYC even though the cars on the BQE rumble along just yards away. There are also wonderful playgrounds, including the super-popular one at Pier 6, the magnificent Jane's Carousel, boating, biking and fantastic family programming courtesy of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy. And this summer, the park will be getting a pop-up pool, too!

So far during our month-long focus on Harlem, we've shared our favorite things to do, places to shop and spots to eat with kids in the neighborhood. Now we come to one of Harlem's biggest attractions: its stunning public parks.

There are six major parks in Harlem, including Riverbank State Park, the northern end of Central Park, and the historic St. Nicholas and Morningside Parks. These aren't piddly little spaces. Together, their amenities include one carousel, one historic house, two lakes, two ice-skating rinks, three amphitheaters, five swimming pools, and a slew of ball courts, playgrounds and sprawling green fields dotted with trees. Come with us on a photo tour of these six urban oases.