96th Street Playground

The draw at this Central Park playground is the treehouse, which is as close as some urban kids can get to the life-in-the-country childhood experience.

The playground is very safe for younger kids with gated entries both east and west, bucket swings, plenty of things to climb on - or slide down - and room to race around. Tire swings might satisfy an older one's need to fly.

A large wheelchair accessible sprinkler sparkles in the summer months, and a concrete-enclosed sand box keeps the toddlers happy.