Madison Square Park451

Madison Square Park park covers a little more than six acres in the Flatiron District and is nestled among some of NYC's prettiest older skyscrapers, including the Flatiron Building, the Metropolitan Life Building, and the New York Life Buildings, plus a nice Greek Revival courthouse.

During the summer months, the recently refurbished, playground sports a very cool shower-height spinning fountain, surrounded by smaller blocks spraying water at kid-level. The two climbing structures are designated for smaller or bigger kids, and the four infant swings might go some way towards calming a cranky little one. Older kids have to take turn on a solitary tire swing.

The park holds musical performances and storytelling on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the summer at 10:30am. In case of rain, the shows are held in the lobby at Eleven Madison Avenue. (Enter at the corner of Madison Avenue and 24th Street and follow signs to the northwest corner of the lobby.)

Shake Shack serves up burgers, 'dogs, shakes, custards - and more - seasonally. A portion of each purchase benefits the Madison Square Park Conservancy.

Dog lovers can get their fill of canines at the dog run!