When we wrote about Berry Lane Park Playground in Jersey City back in 2016 it was a new, clean, Jersey City playground that brought a safe place to play to a previously abandoned/industrial area. Urban playgrounds can be very different than suburban playgrounds because there’s less space to utilize, and Berry Lane Park is a good example of how you can have fun in a contained area!
We revisited this playground again on June 30, 2022, and even though it’s been nearly 6 years later the playground still looks fabulous and well maintained. Unless noted, all pictures below are from our June 2022 visit.
10 Things to Know About Berry Lane Park Playground in Jersey City
As part of our challenge to write about 100 New Jersey playgrounds in 100 days we bring you the details about Berry Lane Park Playground, a playground in Jersey City, Hudson County.
Where is Berry Lane Park Playground located?
Berry Lane Park is located between Garfield Avenue and Woodward Street at 1000 Garfield Avenue in Jersey City in Hudson County. It is right across the street from New Jersey Transit’s Garfield Avenue Hudson-Bergen Light Rail station. Learn more about the history of the park at their website http://berrylanepark.org. The park is part of the Jersey City parks system.
What kind of playground equipment does Berry Lane Park have?
The playground at Berry Lane Park has a wide variety of equipment! There are rope climbs, hand swings, regular swings, slides, and more.
Are there swings?
There are two swing structures. One has 5 traditional swings and 1 accessible bucket swing.
The other swing structure has 6 baby swings. Both swing structures are located together at one end of the playground.
Are there slides?
This Jersey City playground offers 4 slides. All are open and spread out across the playground. There is a side-by-side slide on the smaller toddler playground structure.
There is a curvy slide on the large twisting climbing web.
The largest piece of playground equipment has a slightly curvy slide and a slide with rollers.
What special features does the playground offer?
There are a TON of special features at this playground in Jersey City. The centerpiece of the playground is a large twisting climbing web with even ladders that twist. It has climbing O-rings, a swing, and other features.
Elsewhere on the playground are rope ladders and bridges.
There are spinners, stepping pods, sensory play, rides on toys, and monkey bars.
There is even a zip line at the one end of the playground, opposite the end with swings.
What kind of ground cover does the playground have?
The ground has square colorful rubber padding.
Is the playground at Berry Lane Park accessible?
There is one accessible swing.
There is not a ramp onto the playground equipment, making the main equipment inaccessible. However, there are musical play areas that are accessible at the ground level. At one there’s even a hand bicycle.
Is there shade available at the Berry Lane Park Playground?
There is shade under 3 different canopies that stretch out over parts of the playground. Additional shade may be available under the equipment.
There is not a pavilion but there are picnic tables. They are not under trees.
Where is parking for Berry Lane Park?
We had no issue finding street parking right in front of the playground. There were no parking meters, though it did look like there are some limitations on when parking is allowed.
Are there restrooms at Berry Lane Park?
There was a building between the playgrounds and tennis courts that offered indoor restrooms.
What else is there to do at Berry Lane Park?
In addition to the playground at Berry Lane Park, there are additional amenities available for visitors.
There’s a fitness course area that offers machines for workouts – squat press, stepper, and more.
Spray ground
In 2016, Melanie noticed that there’s a large, flat section of the park that on hot days, is the spray ground! Sprinklers come up from the concrete, so the space is flat enough for walking through/riding through even when the sprinklers aren’t on – a great mixed use of space. Picnic tables are nearby for parents to watch, not get wet!
The large open space is still there today in 2022. The website lists the park as having one, although on our visit there was no sprayground open. We weren’t looking for a sprayground and there didn’t seem to be any markings of one, though there still was a large open space. So we can’t say with 100% certainty that the spray ground is still operational.
Are there walking trails?
There is the Morris Canal Greenway walking path.
Are there fields or courts for sports?
Berry Lane Park offers multiple fields for sports and other recreational activities.
- Basketball courts
- Tennis courts
- Baseball field
- Soccer field
- Skateboard
- Outdoor exercise area
- Football field
- Skate Park
Bonus information we want you to know about Berry Lane Park
The playground is part of 17 acres of property that formerly served as rail yards, junk yards, auto repair shops, industrial facilities, and warehouses. Today, it’s a beautiful space to serve families in the Hudson County area. There’s even a garden of beautiful flowers in the open space.
The playground is gated in and there are plans to build an additional garden, the Harriet Tubman Healing Garden.
Who do I contact about having a birthday party or event at Berry Lane Park?
We provide these details about this Jersey City park as a service to our readers and the park. However, Jersey Family Fun is not directly involved with this park. To reserve Berry Lane Park for a birthday party or private event, please get in touch with them directly by calling (201) 547-4449 or visiting their website.
Find more great playgrounds in New Jersey
Visit Hudson County parks and playgrounds to learn more about playgrounds near this one. Visit our series on New Jersey Playgrounds and Parks to learn more about the great playgrounds across our state.