Best fountains and sprinklers

MANHATTAN

Ancient Playground
A big draw at this Egypt-inspired playground, built by architect Richard Dattner in the ’70s and completely restored in 2009, is its novel spray fountain. In a nod to the mighty Nile, a not-too-torrential blast of water pours down several steps onto a stretch of sand that represents the Delta. Other pharaonic flourishes include scaleable pyramids and Cleopatra’s Needle–style obelisks. Central Park, enter park from Fifth Ave between 84th and 85th Sts (centralparknyc.org).

Catbird Playground
This simple, spacious water feature is essentially an asphalt pit with side sprinklers and a drain in the middle. Speaking of pits, Brangelina’s brood have been spied splashing here. Carl Schurz Park, East End Ave at 86th St (nycgovparks.org).

Chelsea Waterside
Bask under one of the grooviest water features in the city: towering, turquoise blue sculptures resembling exploding raindrops, which drench those passing underneath. There’s also a wall of faucets for frontal soaking. W 23rd St at Eleventh Ave (hudsonriverpark.org).

Claremont Playground
All the Riverside Park playgrounds have animal themes. In this serene and shady spot, the motif is dolphins. From their blowholes the sculptures spritz water all over the play area. Riverside Dr at 124th St (nycgovparks.org).

Dinosaur Playground
Water gushes into this old-school splash pit so quickly that a wading pool forms at the center. Riverside Dr at 91st St (nycgovparks.org).

Heckscher Playground
Locals and tourists alike flock to this 1.8-acre wonderland full of boulders and mazelike ramparts. In the wet zone, a spongy surface, much friendlier to bare feet than asphalt, is dotted with submerged water jets. The comfort station contains bathrooms but the lines are long and they're often messy by midday. Central Park, midpark at 62nd St, enter park from Central Park South at Seventh Ave (centralparknyc.org).

Hudson River Park Pier 51
After frolicking in the sprinklers, kids can splash in a meandering stream or push toy boats down it. The adjacent sand tables are extremely popular—just try and keep a two-year-old from attempting to dam up the little river. Twelfth Ave at Horatio St (hudsonriverpark.org).

Hudson River Park Pier 84
More futuristic fountain than playground, this site is home to movable canal gates, a metal windmill that scoops and dumps water, and bridges from which kids can dangle their legs when their feet need a dunk. Twelfth Ave at 43rd St (hudsonriverpark.org).

John Jay Playground
After a much-needed face-lift, this UES playground opened in April with revamped waterfront-themed fixtures like a boat-shaped jungle gym. Kids can play to their hearts' content among the sprinklers and fountains. John Jay Park, E 77th St at Cherokee Pl (nycgovparks.org).

Madison Square Park
Among the highlights of the green space is a 15-foot waterwheel sprinkler, which should keep your kids from trying to splash their feet through the park’s fountain. A staffer is usually on hand to supervise activities and keep an eye on the knee-high crowd. Madison Ave at 25th St (madisonsquarepark.org).

Morningside Park
One whole side of the cheery playground is given over to water as ground sprinklers throw arcs into the air. Morningside Ave at 116th St (morningsidepark.org).

Rockefeller Park
Spend the afternoon chasing your tot from the manual merry-go-round to the well-shaded dodo bird sculpture to the climbing net to the gazebo. Final stop: a wall covered with stone dog and elephant gargoyles that spit at passersby. Battery Park City, Chambers St at River Terr (bpcparks.org).

Tarr Family Playground
Before its renovation in 2009, this playground’s splash zone resembled a miniature amphitheater. Now it looks more like a meteor crater—in a good way! A wall surrounding two thirds of the area emits arcs of water over kids’ heads. Spray posts shoot directly at little torsos. Central Park West at 100th St (centralparknyc.org).

Teardrop Park
A dead ringer for a secluded rocky beach (if you tune out the surrounding high-rises), this hidden spot holds a few puddles ideal for baby-dipping and ten miniature geysers that burst from the ground, tempting kids to plug them with their feet. Battery Park City, between Warren and Murray Sts, east of River Terr (bpcparks.org).

Union Square Playground
Three distinct sections offer age-appropriate water play, from the western tot lot's gentle water-and-sand ledge to the central area's spray showers for bigger kids. Union Square Park, Union Sq East at 16th St (unionsquarenyc.org)

BROOKLYN

Brooklyn Bridge Park Playground at Pier 6
Kids can navigate a water-play area with three distinct features: a riverlike channel, a water lab (great for learning about measuring and pouring) and a water-jet field (for some old-fashioned, get-soaked fun). The park’s also home to a sandbox village, "slide mountain" and plenty of swings and Tarzan ropes. Furman St at Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn Heights (brooklynbridgeparknyc.org).

Fort Greene Park
This oasis offers two playgrounds with splash zones. The larger New Fort Greene, at Willoughby, features a compass-shaped sprinkler. The smaller and busier playground, on the corner of DeKalb and Washington Park, harbors a hydrant that squirts from all sides. Go on a Saturday to hit the adjacent farmers’ market for an organic doughnut. South Oxford St at DeKalb Ave, Fort Greene (fortgreenepark.org).

Imagination Playground
Don't confuse this lovely Prospect Park playground with the South Street Seaport play space of the same name. A giant bronze water-breathing dragon soaks kids to the bone. After a dousing, tots often like to climb onto the statue’s back, à la Bastion riding atop Falkor the luck dragon in The NeverEnding Story. Prospect Park, enter park from Ocean Ave at Lincoln Rd (prospectpark.org).

South Oxford Park
In this playground designed like a garden, jumbo faux cattails direct water droplets onto overheated heads. 187 South Oxford St at Atlantic Ave, Fort Greene (nycgovparks.org).

QUEENS

Travers Playground
The Queens green space, refurbished last year, boasts new basketball courts and a roller hockey rink. But in the summertime, the spot's leaf-and-vine water feature is the main attraction, providing kids an escape from scorching temperatures. Travers Park, 34th Ave between 77th and 78th Sts, Jackson Heights, Queens (nycgovparks.org).

THE BRONX

River Avenue Park
Formerly a parking lot near Yankee Stadium, this space now attracts local youth with a skate park and play equipment. Passing subway trains activate the playground's water jets and lights, offering little ones an earthshaking way to beat the heat. E 157th St between Gerard and River Aves (nycgovparks.org).

STATEN ISLAND

Seaside Wildlife Nature Park
As they catch a breeze off the ocean, kids explore the nautical-themed playground's shipwreck, shark and lighthouse features. Spray showers and a sand play area allow your crew to feel like they're spending a day at the beach. Nelson Ave at Tennyson Dr (nycgovparks.org).

Click here for additional get wet options in the city.