There are over 20 playgrounds within Central Park and thay are all imaginative, intriguing, and well-maintained. What a wonderful way to spend an hour or so at any time of the year. This entry will deal with 3 playgrounds within close proximity in the middle section of Central Park along the East Side. Each of the playgroun have nearby, accessible, and convenient bathroom facilities.
The Billy Johnson Playground
Located on the East side of the park at 67th Street, the Billy Johnson Playground was inspired by the landscapes of Central Park, making it one of the Park's most distinctive play spaces. Constructed primarily from natural materials, the playground includes a stone bridge, luchs plantings and planty of shade creating small play "rooms." Additional features include bucket swings and a small amphitheater, ideal for picnics and other gatherings. The playground's most popular feature is a granite slide set into a hill, scattered with plantings and rocks. There is also a sprinkler during the warmer months.
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| The Ever Popular Granite Slide |
The East 72nd St. Playground
If you walk norh in Central Park along the eastern edge, you will soon come upon the 72nd St. Playground. This playground's low concrete walls and numerous steps and seats define the play space, as well as providing a variety of levels and surfaces to climb and explore. Play features include bucket swings, a wooden tree house and a granite-faced climbing pyramid with slides and tunnels. A net climber and tire swings are set in a large sand area at the center of the playground. A wall-mounted water feature sprays into a sunken area surrounded by steps and round concrete seats.
The Ancient Playground
Just north of the Metropolitan Museum of Art on the East side at 85th St., is the Ancient Playground, also referred to as "The Pyramid Playground." Despite its name, Ancient Playground is one of the Park's most recently reconstructed playgrounds. The ground material is particularly soft and spongy. They playground, inspired by the collections at Metropolitan Museum of Art, includes pyramids, obelisk and a sundial. In the main play area, pyramid-shaped climbers with slides and tunnels are linked by concrete bridges. Additional wooden climbers are ideal for older children who love to climb and explore. For younger children, the playground has an obelisk-shaped structure set in a sandbox. Bucket, tire and strap swings accommodate children of all ages. The Ancient Playground has two user-activated water features. One is integrated into the main climbing structure: water runs from a central obelisk across two bridges and cascades like a mini-waterfall into an open area with water jets. The other is a small semi-circular area for younger children with spray nozzles set into a wall. My grandchildren just love to play hide n' seek at the playground due to the numerous tunnels, levels, and low walls.
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