Niskayuna Moms' Group
A family group with something for everyone.
Parks
Playgrounds
Museums
Day Trips
Others
Avon Crest: This is a small, quiet playground. There’s not much shade, and there’s a pavilion with picnic tables, but it’s too far from the play equipment to be convenient. Tennis courts are right there and they’re usually empty, and a baseball diamond and basketball hoop are farther away. The park is off a quiet residential street, so it’s good if your child is a “flight risk” or if you want to meet with friends and chat without chasing the kids. Bathrooms here are always locked due to recurrent vandalism. From St. David’s Lane (which runs between Route 7 and Consaul Road) turn onto Worcester, then take a quick right onto Westmoreland and Avon Crest is on the left.
Blatnick: Small, close to a road and parking lot. Along with the play equipment, which includes swings, a short tunnel, and some older climbers, there are tennis courts and access to a bike path. The park itself is sunny, but shady trees are nearby. Bathrooms open daily on a timer, according to Nisky parks folks. Located on River Road, which runs between Balltown and Rosendale.
Lock 7: There is no playground here, but the park connects to the river bike trail as well as the Schenectady Nature Preserve. There’s plenty of grass to run around on, and you can watch boats move through the Erie Canal Lock (interesting for kids and adults). Located on Lock Road, off Rosendale (which forms a loop just east of Balltown Road, beginning and ending off Route 7 West).
River Road: This is another small, quiet park with a couple of swings and slides and some climbing equipment. There are plenty of picnic tables in a shady pavilion, baseball fields close to the playground, and nice paths for walking or biking. The parking lot is far from the road. Bathrooms open daily on a timer, according to Nisky parks folks. Located on River Road, which runs between Balltown and Rosendale.
Schenectady Parks
Central Park: Large park that’s two parks in one: a fenced in “Tiny Tot Land” as well an additional park area across the parking lot. The bad news: equipment is old and spread out (tough with two or more), and the parking lot can be a bit hazardous. The good news: there are always kids playing here and the park has picnic tables and bathrooms as well as a duck pond with paddle boats, walking paths, a rose garden, a restaurant, and a free public pool (rubber pants required for the non-toilet-trained set) on summer afternoons. This park’s a good choice on extra hot days because it’s shady and the pond helps create a breeze. From Balltown take a right onto Route 7 (so you’re going west) and take a right onto Golf. At the stop sign, take a right onto Fehr Avenue. The park entrance is a sharp left.
Vale Park: is a beautiful 35-acre city park located on Nott Terrace. The gates are across from It is very woodsy, with walking trails and ponds. The historic cemetery is located on the grounds. There is playground equipment and a covered pavilion. A beautiful park! Unfortunately there are no bathrooms and not a place I’d go by myself (a bit too remote from the street). Definitely worth the visit. www.valepark.org 382-5151
Front Street: This park has a nice variety of playground equipment along with some “big kid” climbers. Good for a hot day with some shady trees and a breeze off the Mohawk River. There’s a tennis court and pleasant walking paths along the river or through the Stockade (along with Arthur’s Market if you’re feeling peckish). Streets nearby are very quiet but if you’re child’s a “flight risk” you might not like the river. But transportation enthusiasts will love to see boats and the occasional train (along with cars and airplanes) while they play! Take Union Street into the Stockade district—after going under the overpass, take a right onto North College and follow it to the end. Take a left onto Front Street, then a right onto North Street.
Steinmetz Park: This park has advantages and disadvantages. First the advantages, it’s on Lenox Rd. - if you leave the Nisky Community Center the back way and keep going down the street you will see it on your left. After our playtime it’s a good place for a picnic, there is a large pond and several good shade trees. There are paths near the pond and through the woods a bit if you like a woodsy walk. Unfortunately it’s near the street and has old equipment.
Colonie Parks
Cook Park: This quiet park has plenty of shady walking trails as well as picnic tables in the shade. Along with a playground, there are baseball diamonds and a fountain. Going east on Central, take a right onto Lincoln Avenue, which is just after Breeman Street and shortly before you run into I-87. There’s a brown and yellow sign pointing you in the right direction.
The Crossings: This playground is huge and new with a padded surface under the equipment and tons of things to do. The park also has walking trails, a maze to explore, tons of picnic tables in sun and shade, a pond with ducks and fish to admire, bathrooms, and vending machines. It is almost always crowded, so it can be difficult to keep track of kids (and the also-busy parking lot is close) and the competition for the baby swings is intense. If you’ve never been here, plan a trip now, but avoid the weekend. Located on Albany Shaker Road (the same road as the airport). Drive past the airport and Wolf Road (or take Exit 4 off the Northway). The park is on your right after Afrim’s.
Imagination Station: This “awesome”playground has plenty of big wooden equipment with lots of slides and swings. It’s part of Colonie Elementary School, so it’s not available during school hours, but it’s a great option if you headed to the Crossings and were scared off by the mobs of people. It’s a bit past the Crossings on Albany-Shaker Road. Look for a blue “Imagination Station” sign.
Other Parks
Collins Park (Scotia): Large, fenced park. There are almost always other children here. The park itself is sandy, partly shady. There are paths for walking as well as access to the Mohawk River (but far enough away that you don’t have to worry about kids jumping in). Right across the street is Jumpin’ Jacks, which has burgers, ice cream, and more (as well as bathrooms). Take Route 5 (State Street) across the Mohawk River, then take a right at Jumpin’ Jacks and park there. The park is across the street on the left.
Clifton Commons (Clifton Park): This is a large wooden play structure (similar to Rosendale’s playground) that has lots of fun stuff including plenty of swings. It’s fairly enclosed, but the entrance is right next to the parking lot. There are a couple of picnic tables and bathrooms a short walk away. You can sometimes find “snow” piles leftover from the ice rink that’s there, too. Located on Vischer Ferry Road just south of the intersection with Route 146 (from the community center, cross the Rexford Bridge and turn right on Riverview, bea! r left onto Grooms, and turn left onto Vischer Ferry at the Stewart’s, and the park is on your right).
Niskayuna School District Playgrounds
Visit these playgrounds outside of school hours, like over the summer or on those unfortunate afternoons when you’ve been shortchanged on the coveted naptime.
Birchwood: A large and fairly recently renovated playground. There’s plenty to do, but it’s pretty sunny except for a nice, peaceful stand of evergreens. Swings available at a distance can make multiple kids with different tastes a challenge, but you don’t have to worry about the quiet parking lot, which is far from the road. From Route 7 (going east), take a right onto Birchwood Lane and the school is on your right.
Craig: Sunny with plenty of swings and slides as well as fields for running around. Located on the east side of Balltown Road between Aqueduct and River Road.
Glencliff: This playground includes swings, slides, and climbing equipment. From the community center, go over the Rexford Bridge and take a left on Riverview, then a right on Southard Road.
Hillside: This playground has a small structure, plenty of swings, and some older equipment. There’s plenty of space, but not too much shade. From Balltown, take Van Antwerp and then Plum Street. The school entrance is on your left.
Rosendale: This is a huge wooden structure with mazes and tunnels. There are picnic tables and a central bench area for grown ups to sit and chat at (or flamboyant toddlers to “perform” theater-style), but it can be difficult to see and keep up with your kids because portions are boxed in and designed for very short people to run in and around. The parking lot is quiet and far from the road. Located on Rosendale Road (which forms a loop just east of Balltown Road, beginning and ending off Route 7 West).
Schenectady School District Playgrounds
Visit these playgrounds outside of school hours, like over the summer or on those unfortunate afternoons when you’ve been shortchanged on the coveted naptime.
Zoller Elementary School: This playground includes a very large climbing structure with lots of ramps, bridges, and slides. There are some funky arm-pumping swings (no baby swings though), some older climbing structures and a huge field for running around. Streets are a good distance from the playground on all sides, and, although the play equipment is all in the sunshine, there’s a nice shady area with two picnic tables. This school is close to Ellis Hospital. From Balltown Road turn onto Nott Street towards Schenectady. Take a right onto McClellan Street, then a left onto Belmont Street, park in the lot on the side of the school.
Paige Elementary School: This playground has a big plastic-and-metal climbing structure with tubes and slides, including one frighteningly high twirly slide. There are also swings. Located on Consaul, it’s on your left as you drive from Balltown (where the Hannaford/Stewart’s/Jiffy Lube are) to Route 7.
Schenectady Museum
New York State Museum
Children's Museum Of Science and Technology (Troy)
Children's Musuem at Saratoga
Norman Rockwell Musuem
Howe Caverns
Cooperstown
Adirondack Animal Land
Binghamton Carousels
Schenectady County Public Library
The Schenectady Library offers programs for children and adults. You can find schedules for these on their web page under "Events". Their children's programming includes sessions for babies, toddlers, and pre-schoolers.
