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Central Park
Central Park
Broadway
view website59th Street & Central Park South
New York, NY 10022
212-310-6600
Good-for-Kids Rating
Babies
Toddlers & Pre-KSchool-Age KidsPre-Teens & Teens
Central Park Description
There is so much to do in this 843-acre park that it's practically worthy of a week all its own. To start, there's the Wollman Skating Rink during the winter months, which turns into a mini amusement park; Victorian Gardens in warm months; the Harlem Meer (with catch-and-release fishing); and the Great Lawn, with lots of room for a game of Frisbee or catch (and fantastic people watching).
Park
Historical Landmark
Zoo
Kid Tips
School-Age Kids: Got a junior birdwatcher in the family? Go to Belvedere Castle. With your I.D., they'll loan kids ages 6 and up a backpack with binoculars, guidebook, map, and sketching pad.
Pre-Teens & Teens: Kids ages 8-17 interested in rock climbing can attempt to scale the Park's indoor or outdoor climbing walls for only $5 at the North Meadow Recreation Center (mid-park at 97th Street).
Planning Notes
- BYOF (Bring Your Own Food). Before you hit the park, stop at a deli and pick up a picnic lunch. There's a restaurant at the Loeb Boathouse, but it's pricey and not very kid-friendly. Street vendors are spread throughout the park, but they mostly sell canned soft drinks and stale pretzels.
Just the Facts
Hours: 6 a.m.-1 a.m.
Fees: Free
Recommended Time: 1 to 2 hours
Reviews of Central Park
Dont miss the model boat pond
By GreenMomNY May 14, 2008 | Westchester, New York
Babies
Toddlers & Pre-K
School-Age Kids
What we loved:
Amazing boats to look at
What we didn't love:
Wish there were more tables nearby for picnicking
My nephew 10 and niece 7 are huge fans of the movie Stuart Little, so visiting the model boat pond I think its officially called the Conservatory Waters was a must when they visited me from California. We were there on a warm summer day and the pond was filled with boats of all shapes and sizes. You can even rent one to sail we rented ours from a cart with a green and white canopy. It was a nice area to sit and rest, too -- its so quiet and peaceful, I forgot we were in the middle of NYC! br/br/I highly recommend walking along 59th Street toward the west side of the park as well. The carriage horses line up there, and a driver let the kids feed the horses carrots! My 3-year-old got excited whenever a carriage passed us while we were walking through the park, so you can imagine how thrilled she was to be able to get so close to one.br/ Read More
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