Battery Park050

Located at the tip of Manhattan overlooking New York Harbor, The Battery hosted Dutch settlers when they came to Manhattan Island and established New Amsterdam.

Not one of our favorite parks, The Battery offers a serviceable playground at its southern end. No sand or sprinkler play, but there are a bunch of inviting painted wood structures for climbing (these are in need of a bit of tlc), four baby swings and four kid swings.

The view from the playground is industrial: The Staten Island Ferry building to the left, the US Coast Guard building dead behind. A dreary dumpster lurks in front.

We're looking forward to the touted Marine Animal/Seaglass Carousel, currently in the works.

The bathrooms servicing the playground are in the back of the Battery Gardens restaurant and are clean and cared for. Use these even if you're coming from the far north end of the park, or waiting for the ferry at Castle Clinton.

The rest of the park offers some green space for strolling and picnicking, and a great promenade on the waterfront. During the warmer months, you'll find street performers (including mimes in gold lame approximating The Statue of Liberty) and lots of souvenir stands. And just south of Castle Clinton, near Whitehall Street, kids can romp in the ground level system of water sprinklers known as the Battery Bosque Fountain. Bring a change of clothes, a towel, and flip flops.