What's Your Favorite Catskills Playground?
Up in the Catskills, kids can find their own fun exploring creeks, forests, and hiking trails, but sometimes they just need a jungle gym, a big old slide, or a baby swing. (That’s my adorable niece, swinging happily in the photo above.) We’re hoping our readers can tell us about their favorite playgrounds throughout the Catskill Mountains, but we’ll start the conversation with our go-to spot, Bayard Elsbree Memorial Park.
Located along Catskill Creek on State Route 145 in Preston Hollow, this park has it all: a gorgeous backdrop of hills and open sky, swings, slides, horseshoes, a covered picnic area, a baseball diamond, a basketball court, and a creek behind the trees that feels like a little hidden nature sanctuary.
We prefer the convenience of grilling on our deck, but these old stone grills are pretty cool.
There’s also a walking or running path that you can follow toward the creek.
My son, the historian, was thrilled to point out this plaque with his dirty little fingers:
And while we’re talking about historical objects, my children were somewhat mystified by the park’s well-preserved payphone!
Bayard Elsbree Memorial Park doesn’t have a street address, but if you need to input something into your GPS to find it, you can look for the Tri-Village Volunteer Fire Co across the road at 3100 NY-145, Preston Hollow, NY 12469.
