James Michael Levin Playground
James Michael Levin Playground is located in a hilly landscape shaded by many large trees.
This playground has an open design, with ample space for running around and playing games as well as an expansive sand area and a large climbing structure. Its most prominent feature is the Sophie Loeb Fountain, which features characters from Alice in Wonderland. The fountain was designed as a drinking fountain and was originally located near Heckscher Playground. In 1986 it was made into a water play feature in Levin Playground.
The Central Park Conservancy rebuilt Levin Playground in 2010, a project that included repairing the Sophie Loeb Fountain and upgrading the water feature elements. The area around Levin Playground includes many attractions for children, most notably Conservatory Water just to the south.
Central Park has 21 playgrounds that are unique in design and character. Most of them were built in the 1930s as part of a system of playgrounds located along the Park perimeter. The Conservancy regularly updates these spaces to include new equipment and infrastructure that reflect changing ideas about children’s play and safety and accessibility standards. Since 2011, the Conservancy has been working to rebuild or renovate all the Park’s playgrounds, with the goal of bringing each of them up to the same standard of excellence at the same time and focusing on making them feel more connected to the Park’s landscapes and experiences.
Support the Park's Playgrounds
Each year, more than three million children visit Central Park's playgrounds. Playground Partners raises funds that go toward the preservation, care, and daily inspection of these cherished play spaces.