As we mentioned in our weekly wrap up on Friday, we'll be spotlighting one NYC neighborhood a month in a series of posts. That way we can really explore an area, and let families know about all of its kid-friendly attractions. We decided to start with Chinatown because it's such a fascinating and vibrant place. Last week, one of our bloggers took her family on a walking tour of the nabe. Today, we're taking a closer look at the Hester Street Playground, which is the premier play spot in the area.
My husband grew up in Chinatown in the '80s, and he remembers when the spot was a rundown mess of a park. (In fact, Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe once said that it "might have been the worst playground in the City of New York.") Thanks to last summer's $5 million renovation, it's now a state-of-the-art Destination Playground for local kids and visitors.
Part of the 7.85-acre Sara D. Roosevelt Park, the Hester Street Playground is bookended by a soccer field/track on one side, and basketball courts on the other. You enter the playground via the pedestrians-only section of Hester Street, located between Forsyth and Chrystie Streets.
There are eight round picnic tables near the entrance. Recently renovated restrooms are located here as well, although they were out of order on the day we visited. Hopefully that was an anomaly.
Upon entering the gate, which is constantly left open, you'll see a large play structure on your left, and an enclosed toddler area on your right. The ground in all play areas is spongy and shock absorbent. Lovely, decorative mosaics set into the walls were designed by local students.
The toddler area is surrounded by fences, but again, the gates are often left open making for easy escapes. Definitely keep an eye on your kids! If your little ones get out, they'll immediately exit to the picnic area which is flanked on both sides by busy streets and no barriers.
I like that the baby swings and “big kid” swings are gated and separated from one another, keeping older, more rambunctious swingers away from the toddlers. In my case, this also kept my two-year-old from coveting the open-backed swings. She's not quite ready for those yet.
Older children flock to the combination tire swing/seesaw, which allows them to swing while being balanced by swingers on the opposite side. (It's easier to watch than explain!) The thought makes me seasick as an adult, but I would have gone nuts for that as a child.
Although the huge sand pit is always filled with kids, I found it to be the playground's one major drawback. First of all, I noticed sand covering every surface of the park. My daughter, who was wearing sneakers, fell four times while we were there due to lack of traction. I slid myself a few times, and I saw kids of all ages slipping and falling. Secondly, since so much sand is scattered about, the level in the sand pit is several feet below the concrete edge. That means someone walking or running and not paying attention could suddenly fall into a relatively deep hole.
There's also little shade in the playground, although in summer kids can cool off at the various water features.
But overall, it's a wonderful spot to visit. The space is generous and modern, which is a big asset in such a highly populated neighborhood. And for visitors to Chinatown, it's a great place to let your kids burn off their dim sum.
Hester Street Playground is located at the bottom of Sara D. Roosevelt Park on Hester Street between Chrystie and Forsyth Streets.
Read our other posts about Chinatown or get the scoop on other Destination Playgrounds in New York City.