Bayside Park Named One Of Queens' Best Playgrounds For Kids

BAYSIDE, QUEENS — A park with a huge play area and a diverse ecosystem is among Queens' best playgrounds for kids, according to a survey by a parenting website.

Mommy Poppins put the Alley Pond Park Playgrounds in Bayside on its list of favorite places in the borough for children to play. The site names nine places, not ranked in any order.

Among them are:

Alley Pond Park Playgrounds, Bayside

Alley Pond Park has three sections: The Horatio Playground, Alley Pond and Wild Flower Meadow. Together, they offer an adventure course, sprinklers, jungle gyms and a tree-house. Due to its glacier-formed moraine, the park has a diverse ecosystem with freshwater and saltwater wetlands, tidal flats, meadows, forests and an abundant bird life.

Jurassic Playground, Forest Hills/Flushing

Jurassic Playground, previously called Meadow Lake West Playground, was built in 1966. It was renovated in 1999 to include new swings, other play equipment and safety surfacing, drinking fountains and benches. The park gets its name from the dinosaur images painted around the park.

Charybdis Playground, Astoria

According to the Parks Department, this playground was named after a sea monster in Greek mythology for its proximity to Hell Gate, a turbulent area in the East River. The park, built in 1963, offers spectacular views of the Triborough and Hell Gate bridges and is located near the Astoria Public Pool. As part of a renovation in 2000, a comfort station was built on the south end of the park. The playground is due to get an upgrade in the coming months.

Gantry Plaza State Park Playground, Long Island City

The view of the Manhattan skyline from this 12-acre riverside oasis is enough reason for a visit. But the park, spanning four piers, also offers an amazing playground with a rope spider web for climbing, a mist fountain and tons of open space. Other facilities include basketball courts, playgrounds, handball courts and a fishing pier. Also, the Tot Lot on 48th Avenue and Fifth Street, which just reopened, and Hunters Point South Park add more playgrounds.

Playground For All Children, Corona

This playground, designed to accommodate kids with crutches, canes and wheelchairs, offers a tiny town for kids, complete with a post office and a schoolhouse. The park hosts learning programs aimed at developing kids' social, cognitive, sensory and motor skills. The playground includes an expansive jungle gym set.

Lead image via Angus Chan

Jurassic Playground image via Matt Green/Flickr

Alley Pond Park image via Neil R/Flickr

Charybdis Playground image via Peter Dutton/Flickr

Gentry Plaza image via Young Sok Yun 윤영석/Flickr

Playground For All Children image via Google Maps