Park Avenue Paper Chase – Midtown East
Park Avenue Malls between 52nd and 66th Streets
On view through July
Alice Aycock paints her large aluminum sculptures white to give them the appearance of twirled scraps of paper. Stroll along Park Avenue and you'll see swirling tornadoes and giant flowers, some almost 27-feet tall! Aycock has work at MoMA and the Whitney but you can see this fabulous installation for FREE. Don't be surprised if your kids are inspired to cut up a ream of paper when you get home.

Folly – Flatiron
Madison Square Park, 23rd to 26th Streets between Fifth and Madison Avenues
On view through Sunday, September 7
New York sculptor Rachel Feinstein has created three follies, ornamental buildings with no practical purpose usually erected in gardens. The structures—a house teetering on a cliff, a Rococo-style hut and a flying ship stuck in a tree—were fashioned from detailed panels of thin metal. They're truly wonderful and whimsical.

Just the Two of Us – Downtown Brooklyn
Metrotech Commons, Lawrence Street and Myrtle Avenue
On view through Sunday, September 14
German artist Katharina Grosse has placed 18 large abstract sculptures among the trees at this Brooklyn plaza. The offbeat shapes feel otherworldly and the vibrant colors are playful and intriguing. Children will love exploring the nooks and crannies these works create.

Phoenix – Morningside Heights
Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Avenue at 112th Street
On view daily 7:30am-6pm through early 2015
We admit we're cheating a bit with this installation since it's indoors, but it's well worth checking out. Marvel at Chinese artist Xu Bing's two massive birds suspended from the Cathedral's ceiling. At around 100 feet in length each, they're quite a sight and even more impressive once you realize they were fabricated from salvaged construction debris like screwdrivers, plastic tubing and saws. Note: The Cathedral is asking visitors for a suggested donation of $10 to view the artwork though the staff will accept any amount.

We the People – Financial District & Dumbo
City Hall Park, Broadway to Centre Street between Chambers Street and Park Row
Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 3
On view Saturday, May 17 through Friday, December 5
At the parks on either end of the Brooklyn Bridge, you'll find Danh Vo's thought-provoking installation, a life-size replica of the Statute of Liberty... broken into separate fragments! Pieces in City Hall Park include a lock of hair, a ray from her crown and her feet. On the Brooklyn side, you'll find her right arm with the torch in 13 pieces. Children should enjoy this giant jigsaw puzzle and the chance to examine parts of Lady Liberty up close.

Bonus: Governors Island's brand-new Interactive Sculpture Garden will be revealed at the annual Figment New York the weekend of June 7-8 and judging from the online designs, it will be as fun and fabulous as ever. Figment is one of our favorite annual family fests and really captures the spirit of public art with a slew of hands-on creative activities for all ages. Many Mommy Poppins moms plan to go so keep your eyes peeled for a slide show.

Read about other cool public art displays at the Art in the Parks website.

Find out about more exhibits for kids in our Museum Guide.