Riverside Park552

Stretching 330 acres, from 62nd to 158th Streets, Riverside Park is one great stroll. Beautiful views, from the river to the houseboats at the harbor on 79th Street, and some of the city's cleanest and best playgrounds - what's not to love?

Amazingly, some of our West Side friends hardly know it's there. They head blindly to Central Park, leaving Riverside uncrowded and under-utilized.

Some of Riverside's best playgrounds have animal themes, great for children learning to talk and make animal sounds.

~The Elephant Playground is on 76th Street and offers climbing, sandbox and swings. In the summer, the elephants blast water from their inner sprinklers.

~The Hippo Playground, on 91st, has great equipment, and hippo sprinklers.

~The Dinosaur Playground is just a few blocks north, on 97th, and has one of the biggest sprinkler areas.

~The Dolphin Playground is on 123rd, near Grant's Tomb and Columbia University.

At River Run Playground (on 83rd Street), winner of our 2008 Parents' Picks quest to find the Best Playground/Park for Big Kids in New York City, kids can splish-splash through a water "canal" (in season) - a replica of the Hudson River that bisects the playground - snaking from the sprinkler to a 35-foot sandbox where digging reveals layers of sculptures by artist G. Augustine Lynas.

Riverside Skate Park has five ramps, including half pipes, quarter pipes, and rails. All skaters must have a waiver on file to use the Skate Park. Enter at 108th Street and Riverside Drive; the Skate Park is on the lower level.

Sledding aficionados recommend entering the park at 91st Street or 108th Street for the best hills.

You'll find a dog runs in the Park at 72nd Street, 87th Street, and 105th Street.