Ancient Playground (Central Park)

✓ Last confirmed for the 2025 season

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.

Accessibility

Accessible. Recorded as wheelchair accessible — step-free routes to the equipment.

When to go

Comfortable weather in Manhattan runs roughly April to November.

Get directions →

Other playgrounds nearby

There are 15 other playgrounds within 5 miles and 31 within 15. These are ranked by accessibility and facilities first, then by distance:

• Heckscher Playground (Central Park) — 0 mi · Manhattan · accessible, restrooms, toddler
• Adventure Playground (Central Park) — 0 mi · Manhattan · accessible, splash-pad-nearby
• Billy Johnson Playground (Central Park) — 0 mi · Manhattan · accessible, splash-pad-nearby
• Chelsea Waterside Park Playground — 0 mi · Manhattan · splash-pad-nearby
• Hippo Playground (Riverside Park) — 0 mi · Manhattan · splash-pad-nearby

Corroborated by 1 independent source: centralparknyc.org. See how we verify listings.

Equipment changed or closed for refurbishment? Let us know so we can keep this listing accurate.