Ancient Playground (Central Park)
✓ Last confirmed for the 2025 season
Where: Central Park, east side at 85th St & Fifth Ave, Manhattan, New York
When: typically open in warm months (check before visiting)
Hours: 6 a.m.-1 a.m.
Cost: free
accessiblerestroomssplash-pad-nearbypublic-park
Richard Dattner's 1973 adventure playground next to the Met was inspired by the museum's Temple of Dendur, with pyramids, an obelisk and a sundial to scramble over plus sand, swings and water play. A 2009 rebuild preserved the design while adding a ramped play structure, adaptive swings and accessible surfacing.