play:groundNYC

Great playground on Governors island, just a ferry trip away from the busy Manhattan. The playground is built up with all kind of repurposed materials. The kids can really use their creativity and imagination playing there. Highly recommended (and a must visit for the locals) for families visiting NY and wanting to escape the concrete jungle!

The Yard is the only adventure playground in NYC! A wonderful space for kids to experience self-directed play with reasonable risks. A team of trained Playworkers are on site at all times. Kids can use tools and their imaginations to create their own play spaces, or simply discover what is already available on the site. Open to all age groups, but must be between 5 and 18 to enter the adventure play area. A separate space is open to all ages and parents. UPDATE: Parents of younger children can discuss with the staff whether their younger child can enter. They also may rotate groups to keeps the numbers at a safe level for the staff to maintain.

The place is truly unique. The kids get to explore their surroundings and use materials with tools under staff supervision to make something. It's best for sloghtly kids who have a good understanding of safety and self awareness. My 5 year old was knocked over by a kid on a swing and has nasty scrapes on his stomach and legs. It was partially his fault and partially the other kids fault so he learnt his lesson and was just cautiously walking around studying everything. He got on / in every contraption at the playground but is too young to build. As for dangerous things laying around, I was growing up with far worse "supplies". Again it takes kids to learn about safety. Bring some close toed sturdy shoes that you don't mind being ruined, a change of clothes. They have a bucket of water to flush a child after playing. You won't be able to go in with the child but you can watch through the fence if you so inclined to do. Most parents relax on the lawn by the playground. A small area for young explorers is on the side where parents have access. You have to fill vaiwers for all kids attending. The reception is somehow very poor there, so maybe you can do it prior to going there online, but I'm not sure.

Proceed with caution! I’m all about allowing kids to experience different things, but this place is just plain dangerous. Kids swinging hammers near the heads of others. Running with saws. Tall rickety ladders without suitable anchor points. A 15 foot platform with only a rudimentary railing, which the kids have to climb under to get to an improvised sliding pole. I finally pulled my son out when some of the older kids were on top of the “tower”, dragging up a heavy metal chain with hooks on it (easily 15-20 pounds) and throwing it down from the tall platform. The person (1 only saw one) who is supposed to be monitoring the safety of the children was oblivious to the hazards, and told me to leave when I walked in to make sure my child wasn’t injured. Also note, parents are not permitted on the junkyard side of the playground. If this were an actual worksite, OSHA would have shut it down in a minute! If you value your child’s safety, please avoid this place.

My son has been going to the yard since 2015 and still wants to go every weekend! It is a wonderful place where he can build and do whatever he wants. The playworkers are all extremely caring and supportive and our family is thrilled that this playground exists!