The Financial District is one of the fastest growing neighborhoods for families in NYC. Office buildings have been converted into condos and new buildings are sprouting up faster than Whac-A-Moles in Coney Island. Three excellent new elementary schools have been created in the area to accommodate the influx of children, and the blog Fidi Families keeps local parents up-to-date on the goings-on in the neighborhood. Although you still have to go to Tribeca or Battery Park City for most of the kid-friendly venues, the Financial District is rich in off-the-beaten-track museums, parks and a small but growing number of businesses that cater to families.
It’s hard to tell now with all the modern skyscrapers, but the Financial District is the oldest settled part of NYC and a great place to learn about our history. Every NYC kid should see where our first President was inaugurated, went to church and disbanded his troops, and realize that once upon a time the city ended at Wall Street. Even tourist hot spot the South Street Seaport is worth exploring thanks to its FREE family programs and Imagination Playground.
Almost every subway line goes to the Financial District, which makes it a super-convenient place to live or visit. This month, we're offering an in-depth look at everything the neighborhood has to offer families, including our favorite places to play, explore and experience with kids. For the purposes of our posts, our geographical boundaries are Barclay and Frankfort Streets to the north, West Street to the west, and the East River to the east and south. We kick off our coverage with the top 30 spots to enjoy with kids in the Financial District.