Closing Bell: Swing Valley
We thought this curvy mound at Brooklyn Bridge Park’s soon-to-be-open Pier 6 might be some kind of skateboarding structure, but it turns out it’s to be called Swing Valley in honor of the many and varied swings it will host. The ones in this photo are the Tarzan swings, but there are also regular swings…
We thought this curvy mound at Brooklyn Bridge Park’s soon-to-be-open Pier 6 might be some kind of skateboarding structure, but it turns out it’s to be called Swing Valley in honor of the many and varied swings it will host. The ones in this photo are the Tarzan swings, but there are also regular swings and swings for the little kids as well.
A fair amount of that helicopter traffic is going to/from airports (it’s a great way to start a trip – land on tarmac, bypassing security). Not to mention it will only increase once we get into high season – significant amount of traffic goes to the east end from there.
Currently $175 for a 5-7 minute “express tour.”
was there on Good Friday and again on Sunday. unless they cut down the tourist helicopter traffic i don’t really see any point in hanging out in the park (unless you are wearing headphones). you were getting buzzed about every 60-90 seconds. it was like hanging out on the tarmac of a heliport and completely destroyed any sense of recreation and relaxation which are basically what i’m looking for in my park experience. wrote a letter to my Councilman Levin but no response. my understanding is that the politicias are all in the pocket of the helicopter tour companies who are charging hundreds of dollars per 15 minute trip.
There is playground with a great water-spouting dragon on the “other” side of the park that is awesome on a hot summer day; just southeast of the carousel. Took Chloe for her first ride a couple weeks ago, and def will be hitting that one up when we break 80.
OK, just looked on the PP interactive map…it’s called Imagination Playground:
[Tupper Thomas voiceover]
We’re #1!
Readers of Time Out New York Kids crowned Imagination Playground New York’s best in the magazine’s annual NYC Parents Awards reader poll.
From the article:
“You’ll notice the absence of standard kiddie fare like seesaws, swings or slides. Instead, Prospect Park’s Imagination Playground encourages inventive play with fixtures like a bronze dragon statue that spews water instead of fire, a sculpture of a boy reading while reaching down to pet his dog, cutout animal masks that kids can set their faces in, and a stage with multiple platforms of different heights for little ones to play on. In the summer, programs including storytelling, plays, music and crafts are available.”
Ocean Avenue between Parkside Avenue and Lincoln Road
A water-spouting dragon and storytelling grove make this an innovative venue for free Saturday afternoon playground programs.[/Tupper Thomas voiceover]
I used to work at the carousel in prospect park with some black kids from the “other” side of the park. They had friends who would pee in the water fountains to f*ck with the white people from park slope. That was the 90’s though – perhaps race relations have improved.
ew bfexie, about the nasty water fountain water… did you mention it to anyone in the park or call 311? normally id scoff at someone saying what you said, but it is a new park and who knows if they hooked the wrong thing up.. definitely mention it to someone.
bhill, in the place i grew up in new jersey we had a giant playground that was seperated for little kids and bigger kids.. it worked out well, obviously the bigger kids dont want to hang out in the toddlerish playground with the dumb little animals on the springs and stuff (do they still have those?) ours had a pool on the kiddie side that most people used but they got rid of the pool and installed a sprinkler at some point because too many older kids were loitering in it (and it wasnt really meant for older kids as the highest depth of the water i think was maybe 2 feet).
*rob*
Has anyone noticed that the “water” coming out of the drinking fountain at the entrance to pier 1 is totally disgusting? Is that water fountain hooked up to some water supply other than the one that supplies water to homes? There’s something seriously wrong with it – tastes like its coming directly from the East River. It smells and is a weird color also.
Yeah, big kids are a major prob for toddlers on the playground. Many parks have a separate play area for pre-schoolers.
Our favorite playground (by far) is Harry Chapin. The North Heights must have an abundance of new parents right now; last weekend there were 4-5 newborns (0-3 months) there. Of the 40 or so kids on the equipment, less than a handful were school age.
That is largely a function of the type of gear they have installed. The bigger playgound at Pierrepont/Columbia Heights serves the elementary age kids. So far it seems like BBP is aiming for 4yh/5th/6th graders (which seems about right).
I’ve been reading lots of complaints about big kids hanging out in a playground adjacent to a middle school in Ft. Greene. I think that when you have a toddler, it’s hard to think of kids that big as being in the same category! But it’s hard for kids that age–are they supposed to be hanging out at the corner store helping the pot dealers? Or playing in traffic?
Mine is 14 now. She always managed to have a great time playing around and through the big kids at the playgrounds in Clinton Hill. But this one looks extremely fabulous! The better to take her babysitting clients!