The 10 best playgrounds in Queens for kids
Our 10 favorite playgrounds in Queens, famous and lesser known, with ages, restrooms, spray showers and the nearest subway, including the nearest station the MTA lists as accessible.
The short answer
Our top playgrounds in Queens are Playground For All Children, Jurassic Playground and Hunter's Point South Playground (North). For water in summer: Playground For All Children, Jurassic Playground and Hunter's Point South Playground (North). Less famous but worth the trip: Jurassic Playground, Rockaway Beach Playground and Hallets Cove Playground.
Playground For All Children
One of eight playgrounds Parks lists in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Parks shows accessible swings for both under-5s and ages 5 to 12, ground-level and water-based play, and sensory-friendly spaces. No restroom is listed at the playground itself, so plan around that.
- Ages
- Toddlers to 12 (Parks lists accessible swings for both under-5s and ages 5 to 12)
- Restrooms
- No restroom listed by NYC Parks at this playground.
- Subway
- 7 to 111 St (not accessible), about 0.8 mi; also 7 to 103 St-Corona Plaza (not accessible), about 0.9 mi
- Nearest accessible station
- Junction Blvd (7), 1.2 miles, about a 24-minute walk (more than a 10-minute walk)
- Spray shower
- Yes, roughly Memorial Day to Labor Day
Jurassic Playground
Named for a geological period, with a neighbor called Triassic Playground in the same park, so a dinosaur-minded child can tick both off. Parks lists water-based play and sensory-friendly spaces but no restroom at this playground. The park is huge, so check the map before you set off on foot.
- Ages
- Young children; NYC Parks does not list age bands for this playground
- Restrooms
- No restroom listed by NYC Parks at this playground.
- Subway
- M/R to 67 Av (not accessible), about 0.8 mi; also E/F/M/R to Forest Hills-71 Av (accessible), about 0.9 mi
- Nearest accessible station
- Forest Hills-71 Av (E/F/M/R), 0.9 mile, about a 19-minute walk (more than a 10-minute walk)
- Spray shower
- Yes, roughly Memorial Day to Labor Day
Hunter's Point South Playground (North)
On the Long Island City waterfront, in a park Parks describes as a former abandoned post-industrial area, now with a central green, playgrounds, a promenade and a 30-foot cantilevered platform for viewing the skyline. Parks lists no restroom and no specific play features for this part of the playground, so it is more about the setting than the equipment.
- Ages
- Young children; NYC Parks does not list age bands for this playground
- Restrooms
- No restroom listed by NYC Parks at this playground.
- Subway
- 7 to Vernon Blvd-Jackson Av (not accessible), about 0.4 mi; also G to 21 St (not accessible), about 0.6 mi
- Nearest accessible station
- Court Sq-23 St (E/F) (Manhattan-bound only), 0.8 mile, about a 17-minute walk (more than a 10-minute walk)
- Spray shower
- Yes, roughly Memorial Day to Labor Day
Charybdis Playground
Astoria Park sits on the East River between the Triborough and Hell Gate bridges and has the oldest and largest pool in the city, per Parks. The playground has a wheelchair-accessible restroom, ground-level and water-based play, accessible swings for ages 5 to 12 and sensory-friendly spaces. Bring a jacket; the river wind does not care what the forecast said.
- Ages
- Mixed ages (Parks lists accessible swings for ages 5 to 12)
- Restrooms
- Public restroom listed by NYC Parks, wheelchair accessible. Park restrooms can have set hours, so check before you go.
- Subway
- N/W to Astoria-Ditmars Blvd (not accessible), about 0.6 mi; also N/W to Astoria Blvd (accessible), about 0.7 mi
- Nearest accessible station
- Astoria Blvd (N/W), 0.7 mile, about a 14-minute walk (more than a 10-minute walk)
- Spray shower
- Yes, roughly Memorial Day to Labor Day
Rockaway Beach Playground
A playground on the Rockaway boardwalk, which Parks says comes alive each summer from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Water-based play is listed and sensory-friendly spaces, but no restroom at the playground. If you swim, stay where lifeguards are on duty during the season, and keep an eye on the surf conditions.
- Ages
- Young children; NYC Parks does not list age bands for this playground
- Restrooms
- No restroom listed by NYC Parks at this playground.
- Subway
- A to Beach 67 St (accessible), about 0.4 mi; also A/S to Beach 90 St (not accessible), about 0.6 mi
- Nearest accessible station
- Beach 67 St (A), 0.4 mile, about an 8-minute walk
- Spray shower
- Yes, roughly Memorial Day to Labor Day
Hallets Cove Playground
Parks says it has one of the best views of any playground in the city: from the benches grown-ups can look out over Hallets Cove toward the Manhattan skyline while children climb and run. There is also a half-court basketball area. Parks lists a public restroom (not wheelchair accessible) and water-based play, and the nearest subway is a proper walk away, so decide how you are getting there.
- Ages
- Young children; NYC Parks does not list age bands for this playground
- Restrooms
- Public restroom listed by NYC Parks (not wheelchair accessible). Park restrooms can have set hours, so check before you go.
- Subway
- N/W to 30 Av (not accessible), about 0.8 mi; also N/W to Broadway (not accessible), about 0.8 mi
- Nearest accessible station
- Astoria Blvd (N/W), 0.9 mile, about an 18-minute walk (more than a 10-minute walk)
- Spray shower
- Yes, roughly Memorial Day to Labor Day
Travers Park Playground
A Jackson Heights park rebuilt with a great lawn, play equipment and a performance area with stadium seating, per Parks. The playground lists ground-level and water-based play and a public restroom (not wheelchair accessible). A genuinely local one.
- Ages
- Young children; NYC Parks does not list age bands for this playground
- Restrooms
- Public restroom listed by NYC Parks (not wheelchair accessible). Park restrooms can have set hours, so check before you go.
- Subway
- E/F/M/R/7 to 74 St-Broadway (accessible), about 0.5 mi; also 7 to 82 St-Jackson Hts (not accessible), about 0.5 mi
- Nearest accessible station
- 74 St-Broadway (7), 0.5 mile, about an 11-minute walk (more than a 10-minute walk)
- Spray shower
- Yes, roughly Memorial Day to Labor Day
Rufus King Park Playground
The playground shares a park with King Manor Museum, the historic house of Rufus King, so you can fit a short history lesson in between swings if the mood allows. Parks lists water-based play, accessible swings for under-5s and a public restroom (not wheelchair accessible).
- Ages
- Toddlers and up (Parks lists accessible swings for under-5s)
- Restrooms
- Public restroom listed by NYC Parks (not wheelchair accessible). Park restrooms can have set hours, so check before you go.
- Subway
- E/J/Z to Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer (accessible), about 0.2 mi; also F to Parsons Blvd (not accessible), about 0.3 mi
- Nearest accessible station
- Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer (E/J/Z), 0.2 mile, about a 3-minute walk
- Spray shower
- Yes, roughly Memorial Day to Labor Day
Bayswater Playground
A Far Rockaway playground with a wheelchair-accessible restroom, ground-level and water-based play and accessible swings for both under-5s and ages 5 to 12, per Parks. Not on many visitor itineraries, which is partly why it is here.
- Ages
- Toddlers to 12 (Parks lists accessible swings for both under-5s and ages 5 to 12)
- Restrooms
- Public restroom listed by NYC Parks, wheelchair accessible. Park restrooms can have set hours, so check before you go.
- Subway
- A to Beach 36 St (not accessible), about 0.3 mi; also A to Beach 25 St (not accessible), about 0.3 mi
- Nearest accessible station
- Far Rockaway-Mott Av (A), 0.7 mile, about a 14-minute walk (more than a 10-minute walk)
- Spray shower
- Yes, roughly Memorial Day to Labor Day
Fort Totten Playground
The playground is inside Fort Totten Park, which Parks describes as a preserved Civil War fortress with natural areas, historic buildings and an outdoor pool in summer. Parks lists ground-level play and no restroom at the playground, so it works best as one stop on a longer visit, and the park has a nature center if rain forces a change of plan.
- Ages
- Young children; NYC Parks does not list age bands for this playground
- Restrooms
- No restroom listed by NYC Parks at this playground.
- Subway
- No subway nearby. Closest station: 7 to Flushing-Main St (accessible), about 3.6 mi. A bus or car is easier.
- Nearest accessible station
- Flushing-Main St (7), 3.6 miles, about a 73-minute walk (more than a 10-minute walk)
- Spray shower
- No
All 257 Queens playgrounds on the map Things to do in Queens
The best playgrounds in the other boroughs: Manhattan · Brooklyn · The Bronx · Staten Island
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Questions people ask
What is the best playground in Queens?
Our pick is Playground For All Children in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. One of eight playgrounds Parks lists in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
Which Queens playgrounds have sprinklers?
On our list: Playground For All Children, Jurassic Playground, Hunter's Point South Playground (North), Charybdis Playground, Rockaway Beach Playground, Hallets Cove Playground, Travers Park Playground, Rufus King Park Playground and Bayswater Playground. NYC Parks lists 224 playgrounds with spray showers in Queens, usually on from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Which of these Queens playgrounds are near an accessible subway station?
Rockaway Beach Playground and Rufus King Park Playground are within a 10-minute walk of a station the MTA lists as accessible. Check the MTA's elevator status before you go.
How many playgrounds are there in Queens?
NYC Parks lists 257 playgrounds with children's areas in Queens. They're all on our map.
Sources
- Playground For All Children: nycgovparks.org
- Jurassic Playground: nycgovparks.org
- Hunter's Point South Playground (North): nycgovparks.org
- Charybdis Playground: nycgovparks.org
- Rockaway Beach Playground: nycgovparks.org
- Hallets Cove Playground: nycgovparks.org
- Travers Park Playground: nycgovparks.org
- Rufus King Park Playground: nycgovparks.org
- Bayswater Playground: nycgovparks.org
- Fort Totten Playground: nycgovparks.org
- MTA: Subway Stations (data.ny.gov)