This large playground is easily accessible from Columbus Circle. It’s a busy spot for families with kids (up to 12 years) in the summer. There are some carts where you can buy foods and drinks. From a children’s perspective, it’s a very adventurous spot: you can climb on rocks, sit on the swing, play with water,... From the perspective of the parent of young children, visiting this playground is dealing with the - probably familiar - double feeling: being happy that your child is having fun and at the same time being exhausted because it’s so tiring to keep an eye on them at a busy playground.

Unique park with lots of fun water features. Additionally, the kids really enjoined climbing and playing on the rocks.

Wonderful public playground on the south side of Central Park. There are numerous play areas with swings, jungle gyms and other more natural play structures with sand and wood chip base. The feature in the summer has to be the enormous water play area that starts up high near Umpire Rock and follows a series of viaducts and turrets that kids can walk along with the flow of water all the way down to the ground, where there are more sprinklers and fountains to play in. The rubber surface is nice, but due to the extreme volume of kids it is a bit worn in places. There is lots of seating for parents and caregivers, and a decent amount of shade around the periphery of the play areas. There are also public restrooms at the main entrance to the playground, and most of the entire area is fenced in. That said, being so large and with so many people, it's important to always have an eye on your kids here.

Most definitely the best playground in New York City has everything from swings to jungle gym ,sand pit, rubber floor to roll around, a big fort to play. Very big open area with lots of things for kids to do, including a big mountain to climb.

A great park inside central park. You can unwind while your kids have fun playing so many of the activities that are offered to the kids. Many places for the parents to sit and watch. Some illegal vendors sell toys, paint faces and make gigantic bubbles for a fee.

Spacy playground with city landscape. In the summer, there are also water feature for the kids.

nice place to relax. we enjoyed climbing up the big mountain like structures that towered over the playground. i cannot even begin to describe the POWER i felt on that piece of rock. the swings were also fun. except they are best suited for children as the seats are slightly small. but it’s ok: playgrounds are supposed to be for children anyway. there were many other activities that children occupied themselves with. would recommend if nearby. bye

This is a nice playground both for the kids and the adults looking after them. There's an enormous rock that you can climb up and picnic on. The equipment is suitable for ages 2 and up. Sometimes there's a guy there practicing free-running, which is fun, especially if he climbs up onto a building like he did the other day and you almost pass out because you think a child has dramatically escaped, like I did for a hot second.

How can someone not love Central Park, the lake is beautiful, the walking is great, it feels like you arnt in the big city until you see the beautiful skyline. There is so much to do in Central Park. Obscure things such as, rock climbing, while also typical things you have seen in movies like picnics and sports events. There is limited drinking water and few food options in the park, but right on the outside of the park there are ample food options within walking distance. You could spend an entire day here and probably not see everything. A must see if you are in NYC.

Really wonderful place to bring your kids and play. I love the open grassy areas, and the healthy mix of different cultures and interesting people. I highly recommend it, although it can often be jam packed with annoying tourists.

Heckscher Playground is Central Park’s largest and oldest playground. It features a variety of play equipment, including swings, slides, climbers, and an extensive water feature, as well as ample open space for games—all set against Umpire Rock, one of the Park’s most dramatic rock outcrops, and the Midtown skyline. The view is so unique and nice because one sees nature and the buildings simultaneously. There are restrooms here. There is a grand entre upon entering the playground section. They have sprinklers here. It is most unique for having the elaborate water-play area, built on the site of the existing wading pool, which is made up of a series of elevated walkways that are animated by sprinklers and connected to the ground with ladders and slides. My kid didn’t want to leave. I had to physically pick her up to leave! Kids also liked watching all of the people and horses with the carriage. Like most of the city there are many different types of people here. This playground is also unique because there is water in the actual playground. In other words instead of having to choose whether to go to a playground or sprinkler park you can kill two birds with one stone and do both simultaneously. I can't believe there are only 1000 reviews on this place. Out of the 70 different parks and playgrounds we have been to this is definitely one of the top five!

Took my little boy here yesterday and we both had a great time. Loads of places to run around and climb on/up including the rocks right next to it. Toilets for everyone, beautiful backdrop and super easy to find/get to.

Our family was visiting from out of town and wanted to take the kids to burn some energy, especially after being in the car for majority of the day. There was a big rock they could climb and walk on, a large fort like playground with slides, several soft terrain areas, and a smaller playground area off to the side. Several nearby vendors made it easy to grab a snack as well. Because we are not overly familiar with the city we did keep a watchful eye of the playground as it is a fairly larger play area than we are used to. That was fairly easy to do here. Kids had a blast.

Dope as usual. Enjoy the public space and the nice weather. Do a picnic. Play frisbee. Eat pie or sum.

Lovely open space lots of green space. Sand and water area also cool. Lots of kids and families

The playground is well equipped, but the management is chaotic with inconsistent closing times. The manager explained that this playground closes at dusk and the staff start chasing people out 45min ahead of time. The staff Ray was rude to patrons and repeatedly yelled at a mom who was trying to get her toddler boy out of the playground. It’s a shame that the Central Park is misrepresented.

Central Park is magical in all seasons. It's New Yorkers backyard with its breathtaking sights you can set down on one of its 10000 benches and relax from the city's busy lifestyle.

This playground covers a large area and has pretty much everything your kid needs; sand, water, climbing, swings, slides, bathrooms, and vendors nearby. The only thing missing is seesaw and spinning play structures. Extra points for the beautiful city/park backdrop.

It’s amazing can see green part inside the big city! It’s like take a break of the city noise to enjoy of the nature and just relaxing

A favorite summer spot when we visit! Great place to cool off with the kids.

Huge playground with swing sets, climbing structures, boulders, rocks, and water play features for all. Quite busy compared to the other Central Park playgrounds but with so much space that there's plenty of room for everyone.

Son has loved this place since he was little. Classic always coming here when the water gets turned on. This was NYC's 1st public playground, glad it is still bringing joy to kids so many years later and in good condition

Great place to take the kids to play now that the cold snap is over. Head to the park, it’s beautiful out!

If u wanna runaway from the hustle and bustle of New York city, u can always go to the Central Park anytime and enjoy the atmosphere and walk on the grass while listening to birds.