Every spray shower NYC Parks lists, sorted by borough and park, with the nearest accessible subway station. For the days when the only sensible place for a small person is directly under a jet of cold water.
NYC Parks lists 0 spray shower sites across the five boroughs, and 889 of its playgrounds have one. They usually run from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day (Monday, May 25 to Monday, September 7 in 2026). Showers can be out of order, so check with NYC Parks before a special trip.
The rules of the sprinkler are simple. It's free, nobody books, and the child who swore they didn't want to get wet will be soaked to the bone within four minutes. Bring a towel, a change of clothes for everyone under ten, and water shoes if you have them, because the ground gets slippery.
A few honest notes. Not every shower runs every day of the season, and a broken one can stay broken for a while, so if you're crossing the city for a particular one, check with NYC Parks first. The list below is NYC Parks' own, so it includes the small ones in the corner of a neighborhood playground as well as the big ones in the famous parks. Those small ones are often the best, because they're the ones without the crowd.
Spray shower playgrounds on the map
Free, one short email a week. Thursday, 7am: the weather call, one proper day out and the family events worth leaving the apartment for this weekend, checked with the organizer. See the archive.
No spam, no ads. Unsubscribe from any email with one click. Privacy
Usually from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. In 2026 that's Monday, May 25 to Monday, September 7. Check NYC Parks for any changes.
NYC Parks lists 0 spray shower sites, 0 in Manhattan, 0 in Brooklyn, 0 in Queens, 0 in the Bronx, 0 on Staten Island.
Yes, they're in public parks and playgrounds, free, with no booking.
A towel, a dry change of clothes, sunscreen, water to drink and shoes that can get wet. A plastic bag for the wet things saves the stroller.
