Pier 25, Hudson River Park, Tribeca

If your family lives in Lower Manhattan, you probably already love this playground and all that Pier 25 has to offer. This vast playground is spread out with several different play zones catering to all ages. The best features for big kids are the super-high spiderweb climbing structure, a long horizontal climbing wall, and a bank of swings that soar high. (What’s missing? A big-kid slide!) For little kids, we love the three-way bouncy spring-rider, the mini sailboat structure (that’s not much to climb but always leads to pretend sailing adventures with new crewmates), and the shady and protected row of baby swings. The large sandpit and variety of water spray features attract kids of all ages.

There are a few details that make us smile: the quirky finger-holds on the stand-alone climbing boulders, the small bronze sea creatures crawling near the sandpit, and the shady corner where the littlest kids ride on a cement frog. We also love the wall of benches in front of the splash pad where we may get splashed as we watch the kids get drenched by buckets of water. The views are great, too: One World Trade Center and panoramas of the Hudson River.

What’s More? Near the playground, you will find so much more. Check out the skateboard park or kick a ball on the turf field. In good weather and/or seasonally, there is mini-golf (year-round, nominal fee) and beach volleyball courts (for pre-teens and older). Most exciting is the newest playground just steps away: the Pier 26 Science Playground is a nautical scene with two giant sturgeon fish for climbing, and a tall tunnel slide.

Fun Fact: This is one of five playgrounds within the Hudson River Park, a four-mile-long recreation space on the river, that little more than twenty years ago was merely decaying piers and parking lots. It is separate from the New York City Park’s Department and receives no government funding for its operations. The Hudson River Park Playground Committee raises money and advocates specifically for the benefit of children’s spaces and activities within the Park. Private donations were critical for the redevelopment of Pier 25 after it was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, only two years after it had first opened.

Safety/Visibility: At times I’ve held my breath and had to trust my child would not get lost or fall from a height very far out of my reach. The size and layout of the playground makes it nearly impossible to track multiple kids at once, especially with the long climbing wall blocking views. There are three exits with low gates, but I’ve never seen them left open. The ground around the play equipment is especially soft. There can be a mix of older and younger kids running around and potentially knocking into each other, especially in the splash pad.

Bathroom Emergency? There are well-maintained public restrooms with a changing table just outside the main gate of the playground.

Snack Time/Coffee Break? You’ll find fast-food snack options (seasonally) at the two snack bars on the pier. For a sit-down meal or a snack with a glass of wine, City Vineyard is a short walk away on the next pier. There you will find kid-friendly outdoor seating and some food options with universal kid-appeal, but it’s not your typical post-playground stop. It may be best to pick up your healthy snacks and coffee in Tribeca before you cross over the highway to Hudson River Park.

Features: Little-kid slides, monkey bars, special climbing features, sandpit, baby swings, big-kid swings, universal access swings, water sprays, nearby snacks.

Gianna Abruzzo is EatPlayExplore's playground correspondent and the person who knows Manhattan's parks better than anyone. Brooklyn-born and mother of three, she has raised her girls on these playgrounds and spent years championing the parks that make this city liveable. She created a collection of embroidered iron-on patches to celebrate them. Shop her patches here and follow her on Instagram.