Seward Park, Lower East Side

Come to Lower Manhattan to climb the highest mountain in North America on a rainbow of long-stretching, platformed climbing structures. Then check out the mosaic neighborhood map and quotes from when the first municipal playground in the country opened on this site. The playground is well-worn but entertaining – and the history woven through makes it worth the trip.

This playground, last renovated in 2001, features three similar climbing structures that span more horizontally than vertically, and are made up of familiar platforms, fire polls, chain ladders, monkey bars, and slides. The three structures are all painted in a cheery rainbow of colors that can be spotted from afar. The two structures for older kids are separated by a vast open space with summertime water sprays, and in a separate gated area there is a smaller and lower structure for little kids (with its own water feature). In a separate section of the park, there are baby swings, big-kid swings and a universal-access swing.

The tallest play structure is the one with plaques that give the actual names and heights of base camps and trails (Kahiltna Base Camp = 7,200 feet! Motorcycle Hill = 11,000 feet!) on the hike up to the peak of Alaska’s Denali Glacier at 20,320 feet! As kids run up the inclined platforms, parents can help them imagine taking the multi-week trek atop one the of 7 Summits of the world, before the quick descent down the twisty slide. Seward Park’s connection to Alaska? Read on!

The mid-height structure across the other side of the playground is also worth noting for its long maze of platforms and various monkey bars that make for a challenging game of chase. The littlest kids get a mini-version of all this with a very shallow ramp up to multiple platforms and a tiny slide.

Visibility/Safety? This is one of the more challenging playgrounds for keeping track of kids. It’s nearly impossible to see across multiple areas of this playground at once because the play structures are so spread apart. There are no gates that separate the playground from the larger park, which is used by people of all ages. There is rubber flooring around the play structures (some uneven) while there is also plenty of concrete, and the mosaic tiles under the sprinklers seem like they would get slippery and could possibly cut bare feet.

Bathroom Emergency? There is a restroom onsite but no changing table.

Snack Time/Coffee Break? There are many shady benches around the playground. The closest options across the street are Cafe Grumpy coffee and the tiny take-out shop LES Crepes and Taqueria for a quick taco. Around the corner on Grand Street find these shops with these special snacks: pickles, bagels, and donuts. Some families might also want to coordinate a visit with the nearby Meow Parlor – a café where you can play with cats – but children are only allowed during very limited hours, so check the site. If you visit on a Saturday from April through September, eat (and shop) at the crafty and artisanal snack haven of the Hester Street Fair adjacent to the park (we waited twenty minutes for a decadent Campfire Smore’s Cannoli, then shared it back in the playground).

Features: Slides, baby swings, universal access swing, big-kid swings, monkey bars, water sprays, shade, benches, bathrooms, nearby coffee and snacks.

What’s More? Seward Park has the designation of being the oldest municipal playground in the country, inaugurated in 1903. The beautiful circular mosaic in the middle of the water sprays depicts a map of the neighborhood, and spiraling from the middle are quotes describing life on the Lower East Side at the turn of the 20th century. A quote from the Mayor at the time reads, in part: “This park indicates that the City realizes it must provide for its children, that they have a right to play as well as work.”

According to NYC Parks, this park’s namesake is William Henry Seward, who was a New York senator and outspoken critic of slavery. He later became the U.S. Secretary of State arranging the purchase of Alaska from Russia.

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.