Although all playgrounds have permission to open during this pandemic, some towns have continued to have barriers which prevent entering the play areas.
Bowdoin
Park, 85 Sheafe Rd., Wappingers Falls
With its nature center, hiking trails,
and handicapped- accessible playground with swings, slides, tunnels and
climbing apparatus, it is easy to see why this 300- acre park is beloved by
all. Highlights also include a seasonal water play area and unobstructed views
of the Hudson River.
Wee
Play Tot Park, Robert Cahill Dr., Beacon
This toddler friendly park aimed at
children ages 0-6 years sits at the base of a magical forest of trees and is
one of the many great features of Memorial Park in Beacon. The play area
features swings, slides, climbing structures, ride on toys and various toddler
toys.
Hasbrouck
Park, Mohonk Ave., New Paltz
The main attraction of this playground
is the large wooden, castle style structure that allows kids to exercise their
imagination as well. With nooks and crannies to climb, this fenced-in
playground has a wood chip ground cover, a sandbox, slides and swings.
Grasshopper
Grove, 120 Muser Dr., Cornwall
Located at the Hudson Highlands Nature
Museum’s outdoor discovery center, Grasshopper Grove is a half-acre safe,
accessible nature play space where young children can run down hills, balance
on logs, use their imaginations and develop their motor skills. Natural
elements give young children the opportunity to find adventure and appreciate
the wonder of nature by climbing on fallen trees, digging in dirt, balancing on
boulders and creating imaginative worlds with sticks, pinecones and bark.
Admission is free for members, $5 for non-members.
Thomas
Bull Memorial Park, 211 State Rt., 416, Montgomery
The 20-acre park is home to Sally's
Dream Playground, a beautiful handicapped accessible playground with plenty of
share, ramps and platform bridges, swings and even some play instruments and
puzzles.
Freedom Park Playground, 120 Stringham Rd., Lagrangeville
The playground has been newly renovated with brand new equipment. Slides, climbing areas, swings, little playhouses and lots of areas to just play.
Turtle Walk Playground, James Baird State Park, 14 Maintenance Ln., Pleasant Valley
This is a great little playground with new equipment for kids. There is a spot for the little ones to play and lots of climbing equipment for the older kids. A wavy bridge and a unique swinging device round out the fun for the older kids. Even tweens and younger teens will enjoy this spot. Picnic tables in the shade give a nice respite from the sun.
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Here are some things to consider when
searching out the best playground for your kids:
East Fishkill
Recreation area
- Concrete, asphalt,
and blacktop are unsafe and unacceptable. Grass, soil, and packed-earth
surfaces are also unsafe because weather and wear can reduce their capacities
to cushion a child's fall.
- The playground
surface should be free of standing water and debris that could cause kids to
trip and fall, such as rocks, tree stumps, and tree roots.
Robert E Post
Park Kingston
- There should be no
dangerous materials, like broken glass or twisted metal.
- The surfaces may be
loosely filled with materials like wood chips, mulch, sand, pea gravel, or
shredded rubber. Wood chips containing chromated copper arsenate (CCA)
treatment are not recommended since the material can pose a potential health
hazard.
Benedict Farm
Montgomery
- Surfacing mats made of safety-tested rubber or rubber-like materials also are safe.
- Rubber mats and wood
chips allow the best access for people in wheelchairs.
- Loose-fill surface
materials 12 inches deep should be used for equipment up to 8 feet high. The
material should not be packed down because this will reduce any cushioning
effect.
Sally's Dream
Thomas Bull Memorial Park Montgomery
- No surfacing
materials are considered safe if the combined height of playground and the
child (standing on the highest platform) is higher than 12 feet.
- The cushioned surface
should extend at least 6 feet past the equipment. Additional coverage may be
needed, depending on how high a slide is or how long a swing is.
- If there is
loose-fill over a hard surface (like asphalt or concrete), there should be 3-6
inches of loose-fill like gravel, a layer of geotextile cloth, a layer of
loose-fill surfacing material, and then impact mats under the playground
equipment.
Memorial Park
Beacon
Keep in mind that even proper surfacing can't prevent all
injuries. Also, the greater the height of the equipment, the more likely kids
are to get injured if they fall from it.
Updated 9/30/2020
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