Third Street Playground

If you want to skip the chaos of the bigger Prospect Park playgrounds, this is the spot locals actually go to. It’s tucked in close to the trails, shaded by real trees, and on a hot day the water feature keeps the little ones busy for an embarrassingly long time. The sandbox and tire swing are hits with the toddler crowd, and parents can actually sit on a bench and breathe — visibility is solid and it never feels overcrowded. There’s a BBQ area and open grass if you want to make a full afternoon of it. Honestly one of those places that hasn’t been ruined yet.