Battery Park City Parks552

North of historic Battery Park is a gaggle of some of the nicest small parks in the city, all overseen by the Battery Park City Parks Conservancy. Nelson A. Rockefeller, Teardrop Park, and Robert F. Wagner, Jr., in particular, are worth making a detour to visit.

Other named parks within this stretch include Rector Park, a quiet, dog-free, postage-stamp-sized pair of mini parks intersected by South End Avenue, where children's story times are sometimes offered; Kowsky Plaza, just east of the Esplanade Plaza, which has a small playground; and South Cove, which in summertime is practically tropical and offers great ramps for pushing strollers or for releasing pint-sized energy.

The Esplanade, just southwest of the World Financial Center, is the perfect spot to learn to ride a bike or trike, and roller bladers abound. It also features a volleyball court and a playground with a sand pit, two infant swings, little "mushroom" tables, and a small climbing structure.