The Price of a Ride: Carousel Costs and Income Inequality
Colorful carousels are cherished attractions for families and tourists across New York City, but access to these rides isn’t equally affordable everywhere. As shown in the chart below, the Bug Carousel at the Bronx Zoo costs over 65% of local daily median income, placing an outsized financial burden on nearby families. What offers relief to families and tourists is free limited admission to the Bronx Zoo on Wednesdays.
Meanwhile, carousels in wealthier areas—like Jane’s Carousel in Brooklyn Bridge Park or the Central Park Carousel—cost less than 0.4% of local daily median income, offering more accessible fun for higher-earners in those higher-income districts.
We were pleased to learn that Totally Kids Carousel in Harlem offers rides at $1.00, cheaper than the price of coffee, costing less than 0.42% of local daily median income. We encourage other carousel’s administrators to communicate with Totally Kids to determine how they are able to offer very affordable admissions rates while also being able to maintain the carousel and pay staff. Further research may show that Totally Kids is able to offer a low admission price as it is located within a State Park and funding may be subsidized by New York State, rather than operating as a private or New York City entity.
A Family Day Out—or a Pricey Ride?
For a parent and child eager to enjoy all 14 carousels across the city, the total cost would be $111.90. While that sounds magical, this journey may be a financial stretch for lower-income families—raising important questions about equitable access to public recreation.
Reaching all the carousels poses another challenge. As some carousels particularly in Queens, Staten Island, the Bronx offer free or paid parking, carousels in Manhattan and Brooklyn are accessible through public transit or street parking. These challenges pose hidden costs to visiting all carousels in New York City.
Seasonal Spins: Limited Access Year-Round
Not all NYC carousels are spinning year-round. Only a handful—like Jane’s Carousel in Brooklyn, Central Park, Bryant Park, and Seaglass in Manhattan, and those at the Staten Island and the Bronx Zoos—remain open through the winter chill. That means just 6 out of the 14 carousels offer year-round access, leaving families in Queens and vast parts of the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Staten Island with limited to no options during colder months. This seasonal gap adds another layer to the accessibility divide across New York’s carousel landscape.
Gaps in the Merry-Go-Round: Neighborhoods without a Carousel
Nearly the entirety of Manhattan, and most of North Brooklyn is dotted with easy-to-get-to carousels. However, in the Bronx there is only one carousel which, as discussed previously will likely include a hefty admission price to the Zoo. With the exception of Coney Island, there are no other carousels in the large swathes of South and East Brooklyn. In Queens, there are no carousels in the large area east of the Grand Central Parkway. This lack of carousels begs a question for further research: are there other low-cost, high quality recreational facilities for young children and their families available in these areas? If further research shows that there is a general lack of these spaces, we would encourage plans for future development through the New York City Parks Department and perhaps through public/private partnerships on future housing and general real-estate developments.
| Carousel | Cost Per Ride | Percent of Daily Median Income |
| B & B Carousel (BK) | $1.00 | 0.87% |
| Bug Carousel (The Bronx Zoo) | $66.40* | 65.09% |
| Carousel for All Children (SI) | $3.00 | 0.74% |
| Conservation Carousel (Staten Island Zoo) | $3.00 | 0.79% |
| Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park Carousel (BK) | $5.00 | 4.36% |
| Flushing Meadows Carousel (Queens) | $4.50 | 3.04% |
| Forest Park Carousel (Queens) | $4.50 | 1.59% |
| Jane’s Carousel (BK) | $3.00 | 0.31% |
| Le Carrousel (Bryant Park) | $4.00 | 0.42% |
| Pier 62 Carousel (Man) | $4.50 | 0.47% |
| Prospect Park Carousel (BK) | $2.00 | 0.86% |
| Sea Glass Carousel (Man) | $6.00 | 0.62% |
| The Carousel (Central Park) | $4.00 | 0.42% |
| Totally Kid Carousel (Man) | $1.00 | 0.42% |
| Grand Total | $111.90 |
*The price for the Bronx Zoo carousel includes the cost of admission for the child/caregiver duo.
