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Hanging out in the park is a fun and free way to let your little one burn off a little steam and work on those walking, scooting, and climbing skills. But if you're the parent of a toddler, you don't want to have to worry that your toddler will get trampled by big kids while exploring the park. These playgrounds offer either separate tot lots or specific playground equipment geared toward little kids, including bucket swings, more mellow slides, and even convenient access to public restrooms.

1. Underhill Playground – Prospect Heights

Underhill Avenue between Prospect Place and Park Place
This playground is a favorite destination for tots in Prospect Heights. A separate toddler play area includes slides and climbing equipment that are the perfect size for little ones. And once they’ve checked out all playground equipment, kids love playing with tricycles and assorted ride-on toys left behind by area parents.

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J.J. Byrne has an amazing area of climbing structures and a spray park that opens in the summer. Photo courtesy of NYC Parks

2. J.J. Byrne Playground – Park Slope

5th Avenue between 3rd and 4th Streets
J.J. Byrne Playground is a toddler hangout in the heart of Park Slope. In addition to a variety of pint-sized playground equipment (including swings, slides, and rails), there are colorful farm animal structures sure to spark your toddler’s imagination. Little ones enjoy running through the spray showers in the summer, too, and if the trip to the playground doesn't tire them out, you can take in a few of the shops and restaurants along bustling 5th Avenue.

3. Garfield Tot Lot – Park Slope

Prospect Park West between Garfield Place and 1st Street
For parents of toddlers, the Garfield Tot Lot is the place to be on a warm day. In this section of Prospect Park, all the playground equipment is designed specifically for the under 5 set. The mini jungle gym with low rails is perfect for new walkers who want to get in a little practice. When they’re ready for a snack break, there is plenty of seating available. The only downside is the lack of available restrooms.

Crispus Attucks Playground has a little something for everyone—and bathrooms! Photo courtesy of NYC Parks

4. Crispus Attucks Playground – Clinton Hill

Fulton Street at Classon Avenue
The playground, which sits on the border of Clinton Hill and Bedford-Stuyvesant, is outfitted with garden-inspired playground equipment, spray showers, and wheelchair-accessible ramps. Space for toddlers is separated from older kids. And if you need a potty break, there are public restrooms on-site.

5. Slope Park Playground – South Slope

6th Avenue between 18th and 19th Streets
This South Slope playground is small enough that you don’t have to worry about keeping track of your toddler but full of toddler-sized climbing structures for them to enjoy. Public restrooms are available.

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Check out the musically inspired Harmony Playground in Prospect Park. Photo courtesy of NYC Parks

6. Harmony Playground – Park Slope

Prospect Park West at 10th Street
As the name implies, Harmony Playground is a musically inspired playground located inside Prospect Park at 10th Street. Some of the park’s best features are the toddler swings and mini jungle-gym. And if they get too dirty after playing in the sandbox, rinse your little ones off in the playground’s spray showers.

7. Fort Greene Playground – Fort Greene

Myrtle Avenue and St. Edwards Place
Downhill from Fort Greene Park’s Prison Ship Martyrs Monument, you’ll find Fort Greene Playground. One of the best features of this hidden neighborhood gem is the toddler play space with jungle gym and swings, separated from the larger play structure geared toward older kids. The area includes spray showers, perfect for cooling off on hot days. Another perk of playing on this side of the park rather than the Dekalb Avenue side is having convenient access to the park’s bathrooms.

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Carroll Park offers a fenced-in, separate tot lot and a big kid playground. Photo by Sara Marentette

8. Carroll Park – Carroll Gardens

Court Street between Carroll Street and President Street
At Carroll Park in Carroll Gardens, the self-contained toddler play space is closed off from the rest of the park, so you don’t have to worry about your little ones getting lost among the older kids. There are bucket swings, a double slide, and a wobbly bridge the kids always seem to enjoy. The park has lots of open space, which is perfect for scooting and running, too. There's a very mellow spray shower section between the two playgrounds in the summer, plus bathrooms, and the park hosts several family events. If you want to upload a photo or search for a kid-friendly place to have lunch after you play, take advantage of the park’s free Wi-Fi hotspots.

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This Brooklyn Bridge Park playground is built for pint-size kiddos, and there is plenty of shade! Photo by Julienne Schaer for NYCgo

9. Brooklyn Bridge Park's Pier 1 Playground – Dumbo

Families with toddlers flock to the Pier 1 Playground at Brooklyn Bridge Park, one of the playgrounds specifically designed for little kids. They'll love all of the animal-shaped climbing structures. And you can keep cool while you watch, as it also happens to be one of the shadiest spots in the park. There's another tot lot in Brooklyn Bridge Park at Pier 5, adjacent to the sports fields and right next to Ample Hills Creamery, but it gets full sun and is, therefore, nearly unusable in the summer. There are no public restrooms inside this playground, but public restrooms are available nearby on both sides of the pier.

This post, originally published in 2018, has since been updated.