One of the perks of living in Westchester is our proximity to so many family-friendly parks and playgrounds. Here are my–and my kids'–favorite playgrounds and parks in the southern portion of Westchester:
Harbor Island Park
123 Mamaroneck Ave, Mamaroneck
Pack a lunch and spend the day at Mamaroneck’s Harbor Island Park. The nautical theme (giant pirate ship, lighthouse and tug boat play structures, a gondola seesaw, and a swaying bridge) lends itself to hours of creative play for your young ones, and the basket swings and cable “spider web” provide a cool way for them to burn off energy. An added bonus to this playground is that it is located right near a beach and a sprinkler park with public bathrooms, which is ideal for hot summer days.
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Greenburgh Nature Center’s Discovery Playground
99 Dromore Rd, Scarsdale
The Nature’s Discovery Playground at the Greenburgh Nature Center is worth the trip alone, even without a visit to the trails and exhibits. It offers three different play areas for kids of all ages and abilities: the Toddler Tree House for babies and toddlers, the Nature Adventure Climbing Structure for preschoolers, and the Forest Habitat Climbing Structure for older kids. Plus, you’ll find a variety of swings for different age groups and even a swinging bench for parents. A wooded forest surrounds the playground and there are large rocks for the kids to climb on and plenty of open space for them to run around. Pack a lunch because there are picnic tables on the ground of the center for all to use.
Sagamore Playground
64 Sagamore Road, Bronxville
This playground is a favorite among Westchester parents because it is completely enclosed, so there’s no danger of a child bolting out into the street. Additionally, it sits up high on a shady hill, making it ideal for hot days when the last thing you want to do is bake in the sun. There’s a toy-packed sandbox, swings for all ages, mini basketball hoops, a fleet of Cozy Coupe cars, several jungle gyms, and a climbing pyramid to keep your little ones busy for hours. All of this makes it an easy setting in which to spend a leisurely afternoon.
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Jack’s Friendship Garden
794 North Avenue, New Rochelle
It’s no great surprise that Jack’s Friendship Garden, located next to the Huguenot Children’s Library, was listed in the New York Times as one of the great places to take your kids in Westchester. It is one of the few wheelchair-accessible playgrounds in Westchester County. The park also stands out because of cool features such as climbing structures for different ages, reclining seat swings (think sofa lounger on chains), a sandbox with a hand-controlled crane, a large boat-like apparatus that sways back and forth, and ramps that kids can run up and down. Benches are plentiful and the ice cream truck makes frequent stops at the park, so the only thing you really need when you go there is plenty of time to hang out.
Julieanne’s Playground
3rd Avenue and 6th Street, Pelham
The layout of Julieanne’s Playground (dedicated to Julianne Borsella who lost her battle with cancer when she was 8 years old) makes it easy to keep kids of all ages entertained. It’s anchored by a large play structure that features a tunnel, a climbing net, and several different slides. There are two different swing areas, a toddler climbing area, a mini zip-line and a hand powered trolley car. A paved area for bike riding, hockey, or scooters, plus tennis courts makes this park a favorite of both my 10-year-old son and my 7-year-old daughter.
Flint Park
Locust Ave, Larchmont
Flint Park is designed for fun. It features a large pirate ship play structure for the younger set, another play area with rope ladders and slides for bigger kids, large disc swings, a huge sandbox, and even a rock climbing wall. It’s surrounded by a variety of sports facilities, including tennis and paddle courts, baseball fields, soccer fields, and basketball courts. Bring your bikes and take a family ride around the bike path before you retire to the picnic area for lunch or snacks.
Garth Road Playground
280 Garth Rd, Scarsdale
Garth Road Playground is fenced in, which makes it easier to keep track of more than one kid at a time (an impossibility sometimes when play areas are not enclosed). It features two separate climbing apparatuses, swings, slides, basketball courts, and a Little League field. When you are ready for some down time but don’t want to head home, the playground offers checker tables and picnic tables, and since it’s situated next to the Metro North Railroad tracks, kids can watch the trains zoom pass. This just never gets old for some little ones!
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Photo at top: Nature’s Discovery Playground at the Greenburgh Nature Center
