Keep Cool in Central Park

The James Michael Levin Playground at East 76th St. water feature is popular with younger children.

As the temperature in New York City continues to rise, one of the coolest places kids can go is Central Park. Many of the Park's playgrounds are equipped with water features – from simple sprays to water sculptures and mushroom-shaped fountains. Here are three of the Park's most popular water features, all accessible to people with disabilities.

Playing in the water spray at Heckscher Playground.

Ancient Playground
East 85th Street at Fifth Avenue
 
The playground's water-play features keep kids cool while they explore Egyptian-themed climbing structures. Water flows from an obelisk across two bridges and onto raised play platforms, cascading from one level to another until it spills down like a mini-waterfall. Water also rains from two tall posts, and an area for tots features three wall-mounted spray heads.

Tarr Family Playground
West 100th Street at Central Park West
 
Splash around in the playground's wet zone, where arcs of water shoot above kids’ heads and a wall of mist sprays from two posts. In the sandbox area, a post with an attached spigot allows children to fill a bucket for sand and water play.

Heckscher Playground
Seventh Avenue & Central Park South, from 61st to 63rd Streets

After scampering around the climbing structures and rubber safety surface of Central Park’s largest playground, kids can cool off with circular spray-fountain areas connected by elevated water channels that double as walkways.

Be sure to also check out the water-play features in these Central Park playgrounds:

James Michael Levin Playground
Fifth Avenue and 76th Street

Lenox Avenue Playground
Lenox Avenue & 110th Street

West 110th Street Playground
Central Park West and West 110th Street

Bernard Family Playground
Fifth Avenue and East 108th Street

Robert Bendheim Playground
Fifth Avenue and East 100th Street

Rudin Family Playground
Central Park West and West 96th Street

Pat Hoffman Friedman Playground
Fifth Avenue and East 79th Street

East 96th Street Playground
Fifth Avenue and East 96th Street

Safari Playground
Central Park West and West 91st Street

Abraham and Joseph Spector Playground
Central Park West and West 86th Street

Mariners' Playground
Mariners' Gate at West 85th Street

East 72nd Street Playground
Fifth Avenue and East 72nd Street

Adventure Playground
Central Park West and West 67th Street