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Hudson River Park's Pier 97 Playground is a stunning waterfront space to explore. Photo courtesy Hudson River Park 

1. Pier 97 in Hudson River Park – Hell’s Kitchen

Nestled across from West 57 Street, this gorgeous 2 1/2-acre park is packed with something for everyone. The playground features a 26-foot-high rope climbing structure and a ship’s hull, plus fun, seasonal water spray features. The 120-foot-long synthetic turf field perfect for sports of all kinds. Pack a picnic, lounge, and enjoy the view from the 7,600-square-foot sun lawn. The best feature? A granite slide that lets kids zoom down from the elevated overlook to the main pier below. A new park building features restrooms and concessions. It's a stunning addition to the already impressive collection of Hudson River Park piers and playgrounds.

2. 210th Street Playground – Oakland Gardens, Queens

The brand-new playground in Cunningham Park has a fun woodland theme, which is inspired by the stunning Forever Wild forest nearby. Think: log cabin-style tree houses, boulders to climb, and interactive ways for kids to learn about the local plants and animals. On hot days, the new spray shower will be a lifesaver, keeping your little adventurers cool and refreshed! And for the parents, there are plenty of new shade trees, seating areas, and relaxed spots to kick back and enjoy the fresh air while the kids play. Plus, updated bike racks, game tables, and freshly paved paths make this playground even more inviting.

RELATED: NYBG's Beloved Children's Adventure Garden Is Open Again

 John J. Carty Park. Photo by NYC Parks/Malcolm Pinckney

3. John J. Carty Park – Bay Ridge, Brooklyn

Get ready to play, Bay Ridge! This local playground has had a total glow-up. Play spaces for kids ages 2-5 years old and 5-12 years old have been added, plus a new sensory play feature has been installed. Designed in consultation with an occupational therapist, it consists of dashed, painted lines and colorful shapes spaced throughout the pavement, helping to provide visual stimulation while fostering motivation and brain development. Additionally, the playground has been enhanced with new fitness equipment, pingpong tables, spray showers, and seating. The iconic whale that has called the playground home for decades has been preserved and refreshed.

4. Vinland Playground – Bay Ridge, Brooklyn

The latest investment in Shore Road Park includes new play equipment and fresh landscaping. Kids of all ages can enjoy play equipment, which includes a toddler playhouse, two new swing sets, and colorful painted games. The renovation also includes a brand-new interactive spray shower to keep kids cool during the hot summer months, and a new safety surface has been installed throughout the playground. There are extra perks like cozy seating, new fencing, and water fountains, making it the perfect spot for a relaxing family outing.

PS 38 Community Playground caters to local school kids and visitors alike. Photo courtesy NYC Water  

5. PS 38 Community Playground – Boerum Hill, Brooklyn

This brand-new, eco-friendly schoolyard is the perfect spot for your kids to play and help the environment! The newly renovated space focuses on green infrastructure, like permeable pavers and subsurface storage to absorb stormwater runoff. This helps reduce flooding in the area and protects the health of the nearby Gowanus Canal. This schoolyard is the very first Brooklyn project completed through the Mayoral Extreme Weather Task Force, and it’s a game-changer. It will manage nearly 1.2 million gallons of stormwater annually, reducing flooding and pollution. Plus, it’s not just for school hours—this newly upgraded space is open to the community on evenings and weekends. An on-site playground features fun for kids with a colorful track to race around, turf for sports, a slide, a climbing wall, and monkey bars. Parents can relax under a pavilion topped with a green roof while kids play. This local playground is the ultimate spot for kids to get active, explore, and burn off boundless energy!

6. Kelly Park Playground – Homecrest, Brooklyn

A $10 million renovation has brought brand-new play equipment to this south Brooklyn enclave. With an eye toward accessibility, slides, climbers, spray showers, and winding paths have been added. A cool sandbox features toy fossils for your little explorers to uncover, and there are stations where kids can get creative with music and colors. Parents can enjoy new trees, plantings, benches, and lighting that make it feel extra welcoming and cozy, and a bathroom overhaul ensures you don't have to leave when a potty emergency strikes.

RELATED: Splash, Skate, and Play at the Davis Center

Harold Schneiderman Playground's renovation delivered a pair of climbing structures for all-ages exploration. Photo by NYC Parks/Daniel Avila 

7. Harold Schneiderman Playground – Lindenwood, Queens

Queens kids can explore this revamped playground. Little ones, ages 2-5, can explore equipment designed just for them, while big sibs conquer a more challenging area for the 5-12 year old crowd who are ready to take their playtime to the next level. There are brand-new spray features right in the heart of the playground for splashing around, cooling off, and having a blast. Updated trees and landscaping make this the perfect spot for the whole family to linger and enjoy the great outdoors.

8. Bonus (Coming Soon!): BBP's Pier 5 Renovations – Brooklyn Heights

If Brooklyn Bridge Park wasn’t fun enough, the playgrounds on Pier 5, near the ice cream stand and soccer fields, are getting a makeover. The new playground for ages 2-12 is slated to open sometime this spring—our eyes on the street tell us it's all installed! The play area includes a canopy for shade and sun protection, and there will be all-new play equipment.