Tarr-Coyne Wild West Playground: The Not-So-Wild West

The wooden climbing structures, the closest thing to a frontier town.

I was very disappointed that the Wild West Playground isn't actually Wild West themed. There are some round log stockades, and that's about it. I looked up pictures from before the 2015 renovation, and it used to look much more Western. That's a shame. At least there's almost no plastic. It's nearly all wood, and I like that.

Log stockades and the El Dorado. That's about as Wild West as it gets.

It's one of many playgrounds along the west side of Central Park, near the West 93rd Street entrance, and one of several named after and funded by the Tarr family (see also Tarr-Coyne Tots and Tarr Family). Fun fact: the original 1988 design was by Richard Dattner, the same architect behind Adventure Playground.

The equipment is all a little… small. This playground is best for small kids, ages 2 to 5.

Monkey bars, sized for small cowpokes.

Hanging out.

There are lots of chains, and I'm not sure what that's about. The tin-cans-on-a-chain thing is unique; I haven't seen one before. It's not all that fun, but at least it's novel.

Lots of chains. Not sure why.

The tin-can chain thing. Novel, at least.

The river down the middle is great. Kids love floating things down it. It's less a river and more a canal… which is exactly what they need at the Erie Canal Playground! Sure, it's turned off for half the year, but when it's dry it's fun to race trucks down. Fun for me, at least.

The dry river: truck racing season.

There's only one entrance, which gives you great visibility of the whole playground. You can sit on your butt and not worry. It's clean, too: no trash on the ground, just a few patch jobs and some missing swings.

Expect locals, and a private birthday party or two in a corner. It's very quiet during the week, somewhat busy on weekends, and never packed.

The view from the fat tree.

No bathroom. There's a little structure at the entrance that looks like a bathroom, but it's not. Maybe it's a mausoleum, because that's exactly what it looks like. Or one of the mole people's entrances to the underground tunnels.

Not a bathroom. Maybe a mausoleum.

Verdict: a quiet, wooden playground for the little ones, with a great canal. Just don't come expecting cowboys.