Riverside Park is a scenic waterfront park situated along the Hudson River on
Manhattan’s West Side. Spanning four miles (72nd St. to 158th St.) and boasting a
myriad of playgrounds, bicycle trails, piers, plazas, dog runs and athletic
courts and fields, there is something for everyone at this 267-acre historic
park, making it a perfect family getaway, right here in the city.

For The Little Ones:

Riverside Park is home to 15 diverse playgrounds and “tot lots,” ensuring hours of play for your kids. For a complete list of all the playgrounds, click here. In the meantime, here are some of
our favorites.

Dinosaur Playground (W 97th St. and Riverside Drive): There’s no doubt that kids love dinosaurs,
so what better place to put them than a playground to encourage thoughtful and
educational play? Riverside Park’s Dinosaur Playground celebrates these enormous and
awe-inspiring animals with two fiberglass dinosaur
sculptures (a triceratops and a hadrosaur). In addition, the playground also
features a spray shower, two sandboxes and climbing equipment with safety
surfacing.

Ten Mile River Playground (W. 148th St. and Hudson River) – So named because of its distance from
the southernmost point of Manhattan, this playground features basketball and volleyball
courts, swing sets and another spray shower, perfect for sweltering days.

Hippo Playground (W.
91st. and Riverside
Drive) – This
smaller playground features hippopotamus sculptures surrounded by swing sets, wooden
play equipment, slides, a sandpit and picnic tables. It also is home to a
comfort station and park house, and the large hill on the east side is a
favorite locale for sledding in the winter months.

For Athletes And Thrill Seekers:

With paddling, fishing, bike lanes
and a skate park, Riverside Park is a great locale for athletes of all ages and skill
levels.

Biking And Skating: The park features bike-friendly lanes that span nearly the entire
park on the Hudson River Greenway (59th St. to 125^th St.), part of the larger Manhattan Waterfront Greenway that
encircles the entire city. The more adventurous can conquer the ramps and rails
of the Riverside Skate Park on 109th St.
Admission is free but all participants must sign a liability waiver, and children
under 18 need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Water lovers: If you love
being near or on the water, paddle away from the kayak launches at 72nd street
and Hudson River (run by the Downtown Boathouse) or the 79th Street Boat Basin on
the Hudson. For a more relaxing activity try fishing at Pier I on 70th street.

Athletes in the making: Basketball,
baseball, soccer, volleyball, roller hockey…these are just a few of the sports
children and parents can play at Riverside Park. On Wednesday mornings, instructional courses are offered
for children under the age of 5 for soccer and basketball at the 71^st.
Street Soccer Field and Basketball Courts.

Additional courts and fields are dispersed
throughout the park—for a complete listing of all the facilities, click here.

To Relax And Unwind:

Though the park has tons of opportunities for play and exciting activity, a casual and relaxing trip to the park can be just as memorable. Riverside Park provides a gorgeous landscape for family picnics, reading, lounging in the sun, and spending time with your family.

Walking And Fitness: Enjoy the beautiful weather of the
spring and summer with a stroll down Cherry Walk (a part of the four-mile path
Riverside Walk) which is lined with cherry trees from 100 St. to 125 St. Pier I,
also holds movies under the stars, dance parties and acoustic concerts on
select evenings, while the Plaza at 66th St. accommodates Pilates lovers with
weekly workouts. Did we mention all of these activities are free?

History buffs: Riverside Park commemorates American and international history with
several monuments, sculptures and memorials. Here, some of our favorites:

Eleanor Roosevelt Monument – 72nd
street and Riverside Drive

General Grant National Memorial
(Ulysses Grant’s Tom) – 122nd
street and Riverside Drive

Warsaw Ghetto Memorial –
83rd street and Promenade