Travers Park — Attraction in New York

this park wasn’t initially made for people watching and tanning in the sun, sorry folks. this place used to be one big concrete piece of land, and yeah, it wasn’t as glamorous, it wasn’t as green. but us (now late teens and 20 something year olds) grew up coming here everyday after school weekdays, on the weekends, and there were pick up games for baseball, basketball, you had volleyball nets set up in one corner and pick-up soccer games set up in 2 others. THATS what a playground’s focus needs to be about. what has this place become?? one big green hill to do, what exactly on?? catch a tan?? meditate?

I visited a couple months ago with my family and we were in shock to see the lack of space for sports activities!. and a big grass hump that has more practical purposes for dog poop than middle schoolers who’d come here after classes to catch a competitive basketball game on the upper floor, or go for some bike laps. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side, and after years and years of renovations, with lots of potential to take this park to the next level, instead we got a Jackson heights PR stunt that sent rent hikes and gentrification across the area and…fitness classes! that are 95% adult occupied.

that being said, there are many pluses- Some of the newer playground design and equipment, increased benches, cleanliness, and a sweet touch to block out cars from the sides to create more space for special events, hanging,etc.?but there is no doubt that the useless green hill, relatively speaking, has no practical purpose to it, beyond aesthetics and …log rolling… and like, relaxing i suppose… woohoo? Somehow we acquired more space, but the park feels LESS open now, more crowded, and has gotten exponentially more dense in the kids playgrounds area.

I understand though, for new comers, that its a pretty space on the eye- id think so too, if i didnt feel the sharp contrast from my years growing up...

Voted one of the best playgrounds in Queens, Travers offers visitors a nice variety of activities for the little ones. Two playgrounds separated by a gated fence help protect the toddlers from the older children. There's a real sense of community in the playgrounds, with nannies and babysitters coming on the regular, a couple of local Daycare centers visiting with their classes and the local parents chatting it up.

Unfortunately, some genius decided to cut down the 100yr old trees to make space for the renovated playgrounds. Now, with very little shade, it is a sweltering area. The slides and swings get extremely hot and many unsupervised and soaking wet children love to wet the slides with their bodies and water guns. Fun for them but not for the kids who prefer to stay dry. There is a large grassy mound which is nice for picnics but again, without shade, it can be brutal in the middle of the day.

The skating area is nice and large and that space is also often used for yoga and Zumba classes. And there's a new...

Dog Park: I love the fact that the school yard (owned by the city/parks dept) is used as a dog park in the mornings. Jackson Heights only has one official dog park, which you have to pay for, is literally under a busy highway, and consists of nothing but dirt (looks more like an empty lot than a dog park). While it sometimes has some garbage left behind in it from the adults that come in to drink and play sports (...) it's overall a very nice place. Definitely prefer this tar field enclosed by twined metal gates, over the dirt/mulch $ dog park enclosed by black bar gates (not as safe if you own a little dog).

Kids Park: Lovely area. The park was redone a few yrs back and in still in good condition. It currently getting redone AGAIN...