Kids’ party spots worth the hike

Prospect Park is lovely, the zoo is also fun and your living room is pretty swell too. But why does the DIY kids’ birthday party always seem to cost at least $500, even with a Costco cake? To help cut down on the cost as well as the endless preparation for what should be a fairly simple event, here are a half-dozen well-priced birthday party venues you may not have heard of, including a roller rink, a bowling alley and an outdoor adventure park. If you live in Brooklyn Heights or thereabouts, these places aren’t exactly centrally located—but all are worth the trip.

Shell Lanes, 1 Bouck Court, Brighton Beach, 718-336-6700, www.shelllanes.com. $18 per child – Includes one hour of bowling, shoe rental, bumpers, invitations, choice of two food packages (pizza and soda or hot dog, soda and fries), paper goods.  Total for 10 kids: $180.

Plaster Galaxy, 2756 Coney Island Ave., Sheepshead Bay, 718-769-8500, www.plastergalaxy.net. $14.95 per child with a 15-child minimum – Basic painting party with kids’ choice of item to paint (with a special selection of items for the birthday child), all paints and painting supplies, pizza, snacks and refreshments, invitations.  Kids leave with the item they painted and a balloon. Total for 15 kids: $224.25.

Adventurers Family Center (above), 1824 Shore Parkway, Bath Beach, 718-975-2748, www.adventurerspark.com. $24 per child with a 12-child minimum (weekdays) – Includes two-hour party with 12 rides (excluding mini golf and bumper cars), all party goods and balloons, one slice of pizza or one hot dog, one bag of chips and one soft drink, one party hostess.  Total for 10 kids: $288.

Dreamland Roller Rink, 3052 West 21st St., Coney Island, 800-362-5116, www.dreamlandrollerrink.com. $300 for up to 20 children – Includes admission, skates, birthday cake, fruit punch, party favors and gift bags.

Bounce U, 6722 Fort Hamilton Parkway, Bay Ridge, 718-238-3288, www.bounceu.com, $325 for up to 12 kids, Monday through Friday.  Includes two-hour party, two party hosts, pizza, cake, goody bags, balloons, paper goods, t-shirt for the birthday child.

Aviator Ice Skating Party, Flatbush Ave., Just South of Belt Parkway, Exit 11S. (Located in Floyd Bennett Field) 718-758-7510, www.aviatorsports.com, $350 for up to 10 kids.  Includes one hour of skating, 45 minutes in party room, food, drink, balloons, invitations, ice-skating vouchers for each child to come back, party host.

Mary Catanzaro is the owner of POGO Events, which has been planning The Amazing New York Race (part scavenger hunt, part obstacle course and all New York) for the past five years, among other inexpensive events around Brooklyn.