Redy to Splash into Summer? New York City may be known as the concrete jungle, but it luckily has an amazing array of water features perfect for cooling off during the summer swelter. We’ve rounded up 5 (totally fee!) water play areas in NYC to help keep kids busy and cool. Don’t forget a towel!
Brooklyn Bridge Park Water Lab
Splash into fun at Pier 6 Water Lab Spray ground and Splash Pad! This aquatic adventure for all ages is arguably the BEST water spray ground in NYC. It features vibrant water features that encourage interactive play. Here you can fill the canal with water, create a dam, move water with the screw, and so much more. Make it a day of play! The Water Lab is one part of four (4!) playgrounds located at Brooklyn Bridge Park pier 6. Explore other fun at Sandbox Village, Swing Valley, and one of our personal favorites is Slide Mountain. After, swing by Fornino for lunch with the kids, which is just steps away. Watch our video HERE.
WHERE: Pier 6, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn.
Fountain of the Fairs
Could this be the coolest spray-ground in the “world”? Located directly next to the Unisphere, the Mist Garden at the Fountain of the Fairs is unique! Instead of cooling fountains or sprinklers – this one offers a cooling mist. The result: a cooling cloud of spray that feels incredible on a hot sunny day. After, cool off in air-conditiong at the Queens Museum or have a wild time with the animals at the Queens Zoo! Both are just steps away.
WHERE: 📍Flushing-Meadows Corona Park. Avenue of the Americas, Queens.
Lakeside at Prospect Park
The massive Lakeside Splash Pad is the largest in NYC! Located next to the skating rink, the interactive water feature is a large, circular splash area surrounded by a granite wall with arching jets that face inward. It is filled with a few inches of water and dozens of jets that shoot water unpredictably, making it a fun destination for children. Our tip: bring a bucket! After, keep the water fun going by renting paddle boats and boating across Prospect Park Lake.
WHERE: LeFrak Center at Lakeside. 171 East Dr, Brooklyn.
Hudson River Park’s Pier 25 Playground
The Pier 25 Playground offers eight different water features, from user-activated jets to a dancing fountain and open splash pad. It also includes a large sand box, rock climbing wall, boulders, and a swing set. Make a day of it – the playground is just steps from the Pier 25 Mini Golf course. ***HEADS UP: As of June 2024 the spray ground portion of this park is under refurbishement.
WHERE: Hudson River Park – North Moore Street at Pier 25, Manhattan.
30th Street Playground
Headed to the beach? Swing by the 30th Street Playground to discover one of the best water play spaces in the city. Here, little ones can run through a series of blue arches that drench them from head to toe, and play on a ship-themed play space complete with water-shooting cannons. Bonus – the playground is steps from the beach. Read our full guide to Rockaway Beach HERE.
WHERE: Rockaway Boardwalk between Beach 32nd Street and Beach 28th Street.
Honorable Mention: Domino Park Playground and Fountain
This epic Williamsburg park is a must-visit. The playground is beautifully designed, and the area near the old Domino sugar refinery features 88 light-up fountains. Grab a bite at Tacocina, which offers a range of snacks and margaritas for parents. See our video HERE.
WHERE: Domino Park. 15 River Street, Brooklyn.
