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Playgrounds

Safari Playground 🛝

📍 Manhattan, NY

★4.5(153 Google reviews)💰FreeđŸ‘ļ1-5

Bob Cassilly's hippo sculptures anchor this Central Park playground near West 93rd St, featuring climbing mounds, play canoes, a sprayground, and rubber surfacing. Designed for ages 1–5 with full parent sightlines across every zone.

✓ Ages 1-5✓ Sand-free surface✓ Full parent sightlines✓ Hippo sculptures✓ Sprayground✓ Central Park
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★★★★★Featured review by Rhea M

Perfect for kids aged 1-5, which fits our family. There is NO SAND (for those that need a sand free option). I can see the entire playground which makes it easy to keep track of my two. Kids can easily climb on their own plus there is a long ramp up for the littlest explorers. I have so many memories here. When we need to change it up, we walk north 5 mins to Wild West.

🏆 Family Action Verdict

The top Central Park stop for families with children aged 1–5. The sand-free rubber surface is a genuine differentiator for families managing allergies or cleanliness. Gentle equipment and low heights keep younger toddlers safe without constant hands-on help.

â„šī¸ What to Know Before You Go

💡Sand-free rubber surface throughout — no sandy shoes or clothes
⏰Sprayground activates in warmer months — bring a change of clothes for water play
đŸŽŸī¸Full parent sightlines across the entire playground from any bench
🚗Wild West Playground is a 5-minute walk north for older siblings needing more challenge

đŸ’Ŧ What Families Are Saying

View all reviews →
4.5
★★★★★

153 Google reviews

Sand-free rubber surface35%
Easy parent supervision30%
Gentle equipment for toddlers25%
Sprayground water play10%
R

Rhea M

2 years ago

★★★★★

“Perfect for kids aged 1-5, which fits our family. There is NO SAND (for those that need a sand free option). I can see the entire playground which makes it easy to keep track of my two. Kids can easily climb on their own plus there is a long ramp up for the littlest explorers. I have so many memories here. When we need to change it up, we walk north 5 mins to Wild West.”

D

Dave Wisdom

5 years ago

★★★★★

“One of our favorite playgrounds in Central Park. The right amount of padding and pavement great slides and hills as well as an amazing sprayground.”

P

Pezhman Raeisian

2 years ago

★★★★★

“Spacious, clean and cozy A good place for your kids to play”

J

Johan Nilsson

3 years ago

★★★★★

“Nice and fun playground. Think it's more for kids between 2-6 years. It's a bit to "easy" things to do. But don't get me wrong, it's very clean and inspirational.”

Reviews from Google

Overview

Safari Playground sits on a hill near the Reservoir with views across Central Park. Bob Cassilly's famous hippo sculptures, climbable mounds with slides, play canoes, and an interactive sprayground cover the sand-free rubber surface. The open layout gives parents unobstructed sightlines to every corner — a deliberate design feature that makes supervising multiple children straightforward.

🕐 Opening Hours

Monday06:00 – 01:00
Tuesday06:00 – 01:00
Wednesday06:00 – 01:00
Thursday06:00 – 01:00
Friday06:00 – 01:00
Saturday06:00 – 01:00
Sunday06:00 – 01:00

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