Forget about the rusty swing sets and static-y slides of playgrounds past; today’s city playgrounds are colorful, inspired spaces that foster interactive and cooperative play. One of the most exciting new playground destinations for city families is the Imagination Playground at Burling Slip in the South Street Seaport. Designed and created pro bono by internationally acclaimed architect David Rockwell after five years of research on play and playgrounds, the Imagination Playground is an interactive, transformable environment that allows children to manipulate and create their own play space.

Unlike traditional playgrounds made up of fixed equipment like monkey bars and slides, Imagination Playground is made up of three core concepts—loose parts, a multi-level, manipulable environment (made up of water and sand features) and trained "play associates"—which together foster a dynamic and kid-focused environment. This new focus allows kids not only to exercise their bodies and develop motor skills, but to also exercise creativity, ingenuity and other cognitive skills.

Loose parts (like movable crates, blocks, fabric and carts) and the manipulable environment allow children to create and transform their play spaces and design the backdrop for inspired play, while the playground’s trained supervisors or “play associates” create a friendly and save environment, conducive to thoughtful play.

And because of the playground's location near the seaport and waterfront, the park incorporates many "maritime elements," such as masts and pulleys, a cascading water channel and a lookout ramp equipped with telescopes.

What's more, Rockwell also partnered with KaBOOM! (a leading national non-profit organization that has constructed over 1,700 new playgrounds, skate parks, sports fields and ice rinks across the U.S) to bring Imagination Playground In A Box, a portable version of the playground's core elements, to communities across the country. The cost-effective and easy-to-install kit includes parts that are applicable to both outdoor and indoor play, making it a great addition to any playground or play space. The first Imagination Playground In A Box was unveiled at the Brownsville Recreation Center playground in Brooklyn, NY in July of 2008, and there have been 10 subsequent kits distributed to parks around the city.

For more information, visit imaginationplayground.org.