Most junkyards say, “Keep Out.” The Yard, the adventure playground on Governors Island (which happens to look a lot like a junkyard), screams come right in. About 198 young people did just that last weekend when The Yard opened for the season. “The community knows the value of it,” says Yoni Kallai, head playworker and co-founder of play:groundNYC, the non-profit that runs the city’s only adventure playground where kids are clearly in charge.

Stewarded by trained playworkers, the space divided into two sections. The main area is geared to kids age 5 and up; no adults allowed. A family play area welcomes children 5 and under and their grownups. Instead of swings and monkey bars the space is filled with wood palettes, old tires, packing crates and other recycled material that allows children to instinctively take things apart, build forts, dig in the mud and dream up all kinds of ways to play, collaborate and have fun.

Each adventure playground is different says Kallai, “But what we’re trying to put the focus on giving young people agency and freedom to be in charge of their play.” Breaking things is okay too. Most of the raw materials for The Yard are donated through Material for the Arts and useable refuse left on New York City streets. “We’re not too precious about things.”

The Yard is open mid-spring to mid-fall, Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 4pm. The suggested donation is $5. Capacity may be limited at times due to staffing and other circumstances. The best time to visit The Yard is non-holiday weekends.

Think your kids would like to spend more time playing freely? play:groundNYC runs an 11-week summer camp, for campers age 6-12. Registration typically opens in January. Summer camp at The Yard runs Monday to Friday, and there are select options for a three-day week and two-week sessions. Tuition is tiered according to household income; proceeds from camp sessions support operation of The Yard and its accessibility.