The best playgrounds in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill That You Might Be Missing
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Yes, these are actually at a playground!
Fort Greene / Clinton Hill has an assortment of excellent playgrounds and parks sprinkled throughout the neighborhood. Here is a short list of my favorites.
One of the best hidden playgrounds in Fort Greene is the South Oxford Playground at the Atlantic Commons. This amazing space has a large astro turf field, a nicely paved loop around the astroturf for new cyclists and scooter fans, a playground with good climbing elements, tennis courts and a unique water feature: amber cattails that give off rain showers. It feel like a little bit of suburbia. The park is off the beaten path, but the trek is well worth it. It’s never crowded, and there’s plenty of safe places for little ones and big kids to explore. After a visit there, you might like to stop at favorite sandwich shop, Greene Grape Provisions for the outstanding Greene Grape sandwich. Then head to Greenlight Bookstore for a Saturday or Sunday 11 am storytime or just to browse the tightly edited collection of books. Their children’s section has a nice area for sitting and reading and is very family-friendly.
The astroturf is used for soccer and just running around
The amber "flowers"
The climbing structure is never crowded
I’ve logged a lot of hours at the popular Underwood Park playground in Clinton Hill, but it can get so crowded and rambunctious particularly after school. However, it does have one of the best water features for kids. There is a large recessed area that has sprinkles around the perimeter. Sometimes a kid will block the drain and the large tiled area becomes a regular wading pool. It’s a blast on a very hot summer day. There are also plenty of swings, and gyms for both early walkers and crawlers to big kids. There are some shady areas of the park and that suits all of us just right on these 90 degree days. A major annoyance at this playground: the freelancing vendors who come with helium balloons, crusty face paint and icies. It means you have to tell your kids “no” at least 3 times. Remain steadfast for you can spend your money wisely elsewhere: you must continue down Lafayette Avenue for a few blocks to Choice Market for a delicious sandwich and pastry or pick up their roasted chicken for dinner. Details: Lafayette Ave between Waverly and Washington Aves.
The awesome sprinkler area at Underwood Park. Photo by http://tourdebrooklynplaygrounds.blogspot.com/
The big kids play area at Underwood. Photo by http://tourdebrooklynplaygrounds.blogspot.com/
Right around the corner on Greene between Waverly and Washington is the much less trafficked Greene Playground (at PS11). I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been there with my son and we had the place virtually to ourselves! It’s got a toddler area and a big kid side – but when no one else is there, I am happy to let my little guy explore the big kid equipment. There’s nothing else exceptional about it other than it’s so underused and shady all the time. There is something to say about that!
And finally -perhaps one of the largest, and most underused playground of the neighborhood – is the Fort Greene Playground in Fort Greene Park (on the Myrtle side at St. Edwards St). It’s down the hill from the densely populated grassy hill at the monument in Fort Greene Park. And, when I say “down the hill”, I really mean it.You must walk down 3 long flights of stairs to get to this playground if you approach it from this direction. It is much easier to come from the Myrtle Ave entrance. This massive playground has an area with baby equipment, 8 little kid swings, a sprinkler feature and a fort-shaped, multi-level amazing play structure that is great for all ages. This playground has lots of shade, which is wonderful on those scorchers.
Fort Greene Playground at Myrtle Avenue
What’s your favorite playground in Fort Greene / Clinton Hill? I’m always looking for new ones to explore!
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Betsy Good lives in Ft. Greene and has a blog, Mommy For the Win, where she shares with parents what she has learned on her journey as a first time mom. Follow Betsy on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mrsbetsygood
Thanks Crystal for the update. I’m not heading to the park anytime soon now…I’m sure this has to do with the ubiquitous rat problem in the area thanks to Ratner and his damn Atlantic Yards!
I love the s. Oxford park too…..but this summer they are having a serious rat problem. On two occasions I have seen them. The first I thought it was a fluke, the second time, last Saturday, we saw no less than 5 in the hour we were there. We stopped counting and fled the park. The rats don’t seem to be phased be the people or kids running around either.
Thanks for telling about all the playgrounds. I needed some new places to visit with my son.
Great roundup! Star spangled playground (on Franklin between Dekalb and Willoughby) is our off the beaten path fave. It’s really quiet with 3 good play structures, some picnic tables, a sprinkler area and lots of room for scootering.
I heard that there was a meeting that Tish James helped facilitate between the soccer players and park goers and that the soccer players had agreed to play elsewhere. For the life of me I can’t remember where I read that….
I haven’t heard any rumors about the dust bowl since last summer. Last weekend I did see people playing a soccer game off to the side of the dust area so they could play on some grass. I get why they would do that… but it only serves to expand the size of the dust bowl.
I think that if they did reseed it, they would have to fence it off for a few years for the grass to really take and have a chance of sticking around.
I haven’t been to the New Fort Greene- so you have totally encouraged me- thank you!
I like South Oxford Park too- the amber flowered water feature is awesome. It’s my favorite- especially for toddlers. The playground there is a little precarious for younger kids though- it says “5 years and older”- but the smaller kids love the astroturf for ball play and riding their scooters on the smooth pavement around it. It’s totally underused except by the teenagers who love to hang out on the benches and smooch after school.
I love Camel Park’s basketball court too.
My absolute fav place to go is in the “dells” of Ft. Greene park- up by the monument but off to the side where the rolling hills are great for running and playing hide and seek. The monument area is great for practicing stair walking and the grass up there is nicer for picnics.
Do you know the scoop for the “dust bowl” at FG park? Have heard scuttlebut that it is going to be reseeded….