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Battery Park City: Essential Things Parents Must Know

Battery Park City: Essential Things Parents Must Know


    
Boasting beautiful parks and a suburban feel in downtown Manhattan, Battery Park City is a sought-after neighborhood for young families. Here's what you need to know if you're considering a move to Battery Park City.
    

Battery Park City has become the largest green neighborhood in the world with more than 5 million square feet of sustainable construction. This urban locale consists of a fully developed 92 acres situated at the southern tip of Manhattan, with 36 acres of open space that includes parks and gardens, playing fields, playgrounds, plazas, and waterfront esplanades. Not only is Battery Park City one of the most beautiful waterfront neighborhoods in New York City, it also offers an unsurpassed shopping and dining experience, world class hotels, as well as some of Manhattan’s top schools: Stuyvesant High School, P.S. 89, I.S. 289, and P.S. 276/I.S. 276, just to name a few.

This waterfront setting truly creates a pristine and tranquil experience that is second to none. Battery Park City residents can indulge in stunning waterfront views and spectacular sunsets, a Marina located just a block away and countless other recreational and cultural opportunities. It is a highly sought after neighborhood for young families, working professionals, and retired individuals seeking a refuge and more space in the city.

Here's what you should know if you're thinking about moving to Battery Park City.
     

Schools in Battery Park City

Preschools in Battery Park City

Battery Park City is home to three preschools:

  • Battery Park City Day Nursery: programs for ages 1-5
  • Battery Park Montessori: A trilingual language immersion Montessori preschool for ages 2-6 offering English, Spanish, and Mandarin
  • New York Preschool at NY Kids Club: offers programs for pre-2s, 2s, 3s and 4s
    

Public Schools in Battery Park City

There are five public schools in Battery Park City serving pre-K through 12th-grade sudents:
  • I.S. 289 The Hudson River Middle School: offers sixth through eighth grades, plus special education
  • P.S. 89 Liberty School: offers pre-K through fifth grades, plus special education
  • P.S./I.S. 276 Battery Park City School: offers pre-K through eighth grades
  • P94M The SPECTRUM School: an academically driven performing and visual arts program for special education students in first through 12th grades
  • Stuyvesant High School: a specialized high school that emphasizes mathematics, science, and technology education
     

Public Transportation in Battery Park City

Subways in Battery Park City

There are four subway lines running near Battery Park City, including:

  • 1-2-3 at Chambers and West Broadway
  • A-C-E on Murray Street
  • 4-5-6 at Brooklyn Bridge – City Hall
  • N-R-W at City Hall

     
There’s also a PATH station at the World Trade Center if you want to escape the city for the day and explore New Jersey.
     

Bus Lines in Battery Park City

The three bus lines that run through Battery Park City are:

  • Downtown Connection Bus: free bus rides 10am-7:30pm; 37 stops around the perimeter of Lower Manhattan, including a Warren/Murray Street loop
  • M22 at Vesey Street and North End Avenue: runs from Lincoln Center to South Ferry
  • M20 at Liberty Street and South End Avenue: runs from Battery Park City to the Lower East Side
     

Ferry Terminal in Battery Park City

The neighborhood is home to NY Waterway at World Financial Center. Ferries depart from Battery Park City to Belford, Hoboken, Paulus Hook, and Port Imperial, NJ.
      

world financial center marina battery park city

The ferries departing from NY Waterway all travel to New Jersey.

      

Driving Around Battery Park City

There are a handful of ICON Parking Garages in and near Battery Park City. Plus, the neighborhood is close to FDR Drive for easy access to the east side of Manhattan, Hugh L. Carey Tunnel (Brooklyn Battery Tunnel) for easy access into South Brooklyn, and near the West Side Highway for easy access to the entire west side of Manhattan.
      

Things to Do with Kids in Battery Park City

Indoor Activities in Battery Park City

Battery Park City Library

In addition to access to virtually any book you could want to read, the Battery Park City branch of the New York Public Library offers story time for babies, toddlers, and preschool age, as well as occasional Lego building sessions and STEM programs.
     

Creative Play For Kids

This program offers age-appropriate classes that allow babies and toddlers, ages 3 months to 3 years, to flourish, play, learn, and have fun through songs, interactive movement activities, art, and play. Classes are held at four locations in Battery Park City, including The Solaire, The Soundings, Tribeca Green, and The Visionaire.
     

Regal Battery Park Stadium 11

This movie theater is located in North Battery Park City and shows the latest movies in regular format and RealD 3D. It also offers amenities such as stadium seating, reserved seating, and is wheelchair accessible.
     

Museums in Battery Park City

Museum of Jewish Heritage

A living memorial to the holocaust, the museum is located at the southern end of Battery Park at 36 Battery Place, adjacent to Robert Wagner Park. It offers special educational programs for families and guides to help children of all backgrounds learn how to use artifacts to explore their own family's heritage and traditions.
     

Notable Attractions in Battery Park City

Brookfield Place

The venue hosts art installations and events throughout the year such as Canstruction, an annual design exhibition featuring large sculptures made entirely out of cans of food, free concerts, and performances, including The Nutcracker during the holiday season and Santa’s Winter Wonderland for photo opportunities with Santa Claus.
     

The Rink at Brookfield Place

A beautiful skating rink overlooking the North Cove Marina, The Rink is open to the public late fall to early spring. The Rink offers private skating lessons and classes including intro to Hockey classes taught by United States Olympians Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov.
     

SeaGlass Carousel at the Battery Conservancy

Located at State and Water streets, SeaGlass Carousel is an aquatic merry-go-round that was designed to conjure the Battery’s history as the first home of the New York Aquarium.
     

Parks in Battery Park City

Battery Park City Ball Fields

Located on West Street between Murray and Warren streets, the fields provide ample space for community sports such as softball, kickball, Ultimate Frisbee, lacrosse, football, and soccer. Although the majority of time is set aside for youth play, adults are also welcome, particularly in summer months.
    

Irish Hunger Memorial

Located at Vesey Street and North End Avenue, the memorial was designed by artist Brian Tolle. The memorial contains stones from each of Ireland’s 32 counties, and is elevated on a limestone plinth. The memorial represents a rural Irish landscape with an abandoned stone cottage, stone walls, fallow potato fields, and the flora on the north Connacht wetlands. It is both a metaphor for the Great Irish Famine and a reminder that hunger today is often the result of lack of access to land.
    

Rockefeller Park

Located in the north end of Battery Park City and west of River Terrace, Rockefeller Park contains spacious lawns, as well as a large playground, plantings and gardens, several public art pieces, and a pavilion. The Parkhouse loans games and equipment every day from May through October. Permanent pingpong and billiards tables are available, as well as basketball and handball courts and swings. Rockefeller Park also hosts the Children’s Garden in which participating children can grow their own vegetables and flowers.
     

rockefeller park battery park city

Rockefeller Park in Battery Park City offers views of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

     

Teardrop Park

Located between Warren and Murray Streets and nestled between River Terrace and North End Avenue, this 2-acre park features a natural design featuring a children’s slide built into the rocks, sand boxes, water play area, a rocky reading area. Battery Park City Park Conservancy’s Wednesdays in Teardrop program is highly popular from May through October and features fun lawn games and creative art projects for school age children.
    

Teardrop Park South

Located north of the Irish Hunger Memorial and south of Teardrop Park, Teardrop Park South features two fountains and lots of seating. Two of its neighbors, Poet’s House and the New York Public Library’s Battery Park City branch, offer poetry readings and storytelling in the mini-amphitheater.
    

Wagner Park

This park offers open lawns and gardens at the southern end of Battery Park and features breathtaking views of the Statue of Liberty and New York Harbor.
    

Playgrounds in Battery Park City

There are three playgrounds in Battery Park City for neighborhood children to play and explore:

  • P.S. 89: Warren Street at North End Avenue: As Schoolyards to Playgrounds site, the school’s playground is open to the public during non-school hours
  • Rockefeller Park: River Terrace at Murray Street
  • Teardrop Park: between Warren and Murray streets, east of River Terrace and west of North End Avenue
         

nelson a rockefeller park playground battery park city

The playground at Rockefeller Park in Battery Park City

    

Sports Facilities in Battery Park City

Asphalt Green

This nonprofit is dedicated to helping kids and adults of all backgrounds achieve health through sports and fitness. It offers a wide selection of sports, fitness, and aquatics programs for adults and children, including swimming lessons, yoga, Pilates, basketball, martial arts, tennis, and volleyball. The beautiful facility with 25-yard indoor pool also offers summer camp and mini-day camps for kids when schools are closed.
    

Battery Park City Parks Conservancy

As the nonprofit that manages, maintains, and programs the parks and open spaces of Battery Park City, the conservancy offers a variety of enrichment and fitness programs for kids, teens, and adults at the Community Center at Stuyvesant High School and 6 River Terrace. Programs include chess for kids, yoga, swim lessons, story times, badminton, and teen nights.
    

Community Center at Stuyvesant High School

Part of the Battery City Parks Conservancy, the community center offers memberships for use of its half-Olympic sized pool, basketball courts, gym, fitness equipment, and other amenities, as well as free programs and classes.
   

Restaurants in Battery Park City

Battery Park City is home to family-friendly and date night restaurants for Mom and Dad, as well as lunch-on-the-go options.
   

Family-Friendly Restaurants in Battery Park City

The handful of family-friendly restaurants in the neighborhood inlcude:

  • El Vez: Mexican
  • Harry’s Italian: single and family-style Italian cuisine, plus pizzas
  • Parm: Italian; the ice cream cake dessert is a must
  • Shake Shack: burgers, hot dogs, fries, and frozen custard
          

harry's italian battery park city

Harry's Italian offers family-style dining, which makes it a great option for a family night out.

    

Lunch-on-the-Go Restaurants in Battery Park City

Located at Brookfield Place, Hudson Eats offers a variety of selections to choose from, including:

  • Blue Ribbon Sushi
  • Chop’t: premium chopped salads
  • Dig Inn Seasonal Market: farm fresh food on a budget
  • Little Muenster: artisanal grilled cheese
  • Num Pang: Cambodian-inspired sandwiches
  • Skinny Pizza: thin and crispy pizza
  • Sprinkles Cupcakes: handcrafted cupcakes
   

Date Night Restaurants in Battery Park City

Mom and Dad can enjoy a much-needed night out at one of the following neighborhood eateries:

  • Amada: Andalusian tapas bar and restaurant
  • Conrad Hotel: Grab a drink at Loopy Doopy Rooftop Bar then head to ATRIO Wine Bar & Restaurant for Mediterranean flavors, New York style.
  • North End Grill: rustic French-inspired cuisine
    

Shopping in Battery Park City

Located between Vesey and Liberty streets, you’ll find Brookfield Place—a shopping and dining center with such stores as Burberry, Club Monaco, Hermes, J Crew, Lululemon, Theory, Saks Fifth Avenue, Babesta, and Tory Burch. Brookfield Place is also home to a variety of restaurants, including Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar, P.J. Clarkes, Sprinkles, and Umami Burger, and amenities such as Equinox, North Cove Marina, and Zipcar.

Just outside of Battery Park City in Tribeca, you’ll find:

  • Barnes & Nobel, 97 Warren St.
  • Bed Bath & Beyond, 270 Greenwich St.
  • Target, 255 Greenwich St.
  • Whole Foods, 270 Greenwich St. 

        

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