Sometimes simplicity is the best thing. That is why the Joseph E. DeVoy Playground in Forest Park (71st and Union Turnpike in Queens) is not only one of my kids’ favorite parks but mine.
Is there a sandbox? No. Water feature? No. Bathroom? No. But what it does have is an element of nature, rolling hills and plenty of swings. Also, the ice cream truck never stops by. Which is a good thing.
In the front of DeVoy Playground, which is right near a hiking/ horse trail, there are three climbers, each with increased difficulty, a set of swings and an old-fashioned tire swing. As you go up, you see baby-safety swings and a giant tree house with monkey bars. It can be a store or a castle or a spaceship or some combination of all three.
What is nice is the park is fully shaded by trees and the ground is all natural (grass and wood chips) except for an asphalt pathway, which is great for drawing with chalk or riding your scooter way too fast.
My kids and I go to this park in all seasons. The autumn is great because of the giant piles of leaves you can jump into. And when it was covered in snow this winter the natural contours made for super fun sledding slopes. I’ll always have an affinity to this park because my son took his first steps near the twisty slide that my daughter was trying very hard to climb up.
DeVoy Playground features
Shade – Almost completely covered in trees
Water feature – No.
Bathrooms – Not in the park, but there is a Stop N Shop down the block with facilities.
Sand – No.
Grass – All grass and wood chips.
Thank you for the kind words about my Dad’s park. I live in Florida but every time I go home to see my Mom I visit my Dad’s park. He was a wonderful man and the best Dad ever!!
Glad you enjoy the park!!
We just came back from Vienna and discovered that their playgrounds are very natural and therefore respectful to the senses, greatly shaded and also the features have a lot of movement to them which is great for kids balance and physical development (see-saws, rope climbing, zip lines!, rolling hills, water labs with mini dams, amongst many other features and using natural materials such as wood, wood chips, etc). DeVoy Playground is just like that! And even more! But what a surprise to see construction going on this summer in it. I truly hope they keep the special spirit of this playground and don’t just pave it, put a metal monkey bar and a sprinkler like most of playgrounds in NYC.
We just drove by the park yesterday to see it’s closed for renovations. I hope they keep the original spirit of the park alive.