Playground Partners - Riverside Park Conservancy

Riverside User Group

Riverside Playground Partners

For over 35 years, the Conservancy has been lucky to work with the Hippo Playground Project, an all-volunteer group originally dedicated to maintaining the Hippo playground and providing free activities for the community. The popularity of Hippo Playground is a testament to the amazing care the neighborhood has for one of its treasures.

In 2025, we expanded on this foundation by launching the Riverside Playground Partners, with a broad focus on all our playgrounds to ensure we can provide the highest standard of care and programming throughout the Park. The Riverside Playground Partners will be a new collaborative effort between local families and Conservancy staff.

Rent Hippo Parkhouse

Art in the Park

Riverside Park Conservancy and the Playground Partners group are so excited to bring back Art in the Park this summer. In an effort to spread more of our programming offerings to other playgrounds and communities in the Park, the program will now take place two days a week (Tuesdays and Wednesdays) at Hippo Playground on 91st St and two days a week (Mondays and Thursdays) at Riverbank Playground on 142nd St.

Art in the Park classes this year have been specially developed by our Sustainability team, with a focus on learning about nature through arts & crafts projects. These activities will both enhance children’s appreciation and knowledge about trees, plants, animals and the ecology of Riverside Park and be an outlet for creative exploration and expression.

Art in the Park is made possible by our neighborhood’s contributions to the Spring Fair and regular donations throughout the year!

Get involved with Playground Partners!

Volunteers are an essential part of the success of our Playground Partners programming! Parent volunteers will have the chance to connect with more of their neighbors and students get the opportunity for hands-on community service, and exposure to event work. You can learn more about our initiative here and register your interest here.

Thank you for joining us!

Hippo Spring Fair

An Upper West Side institution, the Hippo Playground Spring Fair celebrates the season with live music, games, activities, arts & crafts, giant bubbles, a petting zoo, and the chance to meet our Park fleet and dress up as Riverside Park junior staff members! Proceeds help fund the continued maintenance of the 15 playgrounds across Riverside Park and year round programming that serves thousands of local families.