The Secret Garden of Slides: Billy Johnson Playground

The little stone bridge, with the sneaky water jets underneath.

Here's one many Manhattan parents have walked right past. Billy Johnson Playground is tucked into Central Park near East 67th Street, and you can't see it from Fifth Avenue or from the jogging loop. I've mentioned it to plenty of fellow parents who had no idea it existed. If Heckscher is too busy or just not your style, this is the place to go — it's sort of the East Side's answer to the Adventure Playground on the West Side.

The granite slide, set into the rocks.

It was designed back in the 1980s to feel like a miniature version of the park around it, and it shows. There's no truly original equipment here, but there's a picturesque little stone bridge (a kid-sized cousin of Gapstow Bridge down at the Pond), a long granite slide set right into a rocky hill, and a nicer-than-average splash pad. Regulars bring a piece of cardboard to sit on for extra speed on the slide. Take the tip.

Making new friends on the tire swing.

The best trick is under the bridge. Water jets are built into the pathway there, which makes a fun little stretch to run through over and over again. And there's always a certain kind of kid — I was one of them — who waits for some unsuspecting soul to stroll under the bridge, then hits the button and cackles as the jets go off. It never stops being funny.

The splash pad, flagstones and all.

The tire swing is where kids learn to share and make friends. There's also a nice flat, open sandy area that's perfect for a game of kickball. Line of sight isn't great with all the rocks and plantings, but there's only one entrance and exit, so there's nothing to worry about.

Verdict: a genuine hidden gem. I'm not sure I'd cross the city just for it, but if you're anywhere on the East Side, it's a lovely way to spend an afternoon.