Inside CityParks Play’s Mission to Keep NYC Kids Active and Healthy
City Parks Foundation is dedicated to invigorating and transforming parks into dynamic, vibrant
centers of urban life through sports, arts, community building and education programs for all New Yorkers.
City Parks Foundation
— located in more than 320 parks, recreation centers, and public schools across the City
–reach over 278,000 people each year. Our ethos is simple: thriving parks mean thriving communities.
Cit
y Parks Play is a free sports programs in NYC, that help keep over 7,400 kids active and healthy while learning sports they can
play for life — tennis, soccer, golf, and track & field. Fitness programs help keep nearly 600 seniors
agile and connected to their communities.
KEEPING KIDS & SENIORS ACTIVE AND HEALTHY
CityParks Play plays a central role in activating City Parks Foundation’s mission to create vibrant and healthy urban communities through dynamic free sports programs in parks across New York City. Our free sports programs transform parks into centers for recreation. We provide free instruction, coaching, and equipment to more than 6,000 kids, ages 5 to 17, and more than 600 seniors in locations citywide.
We help kids stay active, develop athletic skills, and make new friends.
View our program overview here.
Interested in sponsorship opportunities? View the partnership deck here.
Want to work with CityParks Play? Learn more about our job opportunities.
TENNIS
Our tennis programs promote physical fitness while building self-confidence through free tennis instruction. Opportunities for kids of all levels across citywide parks include free beginner lessons, tournaments, leagues, excellence programs and special events with tennis professionals.
GOLF
Our summer youth golf program introduces beginners to the basic skills of the game. After completing the introductory program, all are invited to continue to learn and play at local public golf courses and at the CityParks Junior Golf Center in Brooklyn or at the Golf Center Annex in Queens.
JUNIOR GOLF CENTER
Our Junior Golf Center, located next to the Dyker Beach public golf course in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, offers free instruction and use of equipment for all ability levels, practice time, educational workshops and weekly tournaments.
Practice facilities at the Golf Center are open to New York City residents ages 8-17. Free membership includes the use of junior clubs and practice areas, invitations to special golf events, and discounts on equipment.
TRACK & FIELD
Our free track and field programs enables kids to learn the fundamentals of the sport at parks throughout the five boroughs. The program is open to kids ages 8-17 and includes activities like long jump, shot put, hurdles, discus, javelin, and track.
SOCCER
Our soccer pros are here to share their love of the game, using fun exercises and drills to help teach kids the basics of soccer. Our coaches will be joined by those from the NYC Football Club to teach kids how to pass, dribble, and kick through informal play and instruction. At the end of the program, select participants are invited to compete in a one-day tournament.
EVERYDAY PLAY
At City Parks Foundation, our mission is to create vibrant and healthy urban communities for all New Yorkers. Everyday Play is a free, 5-day per week multi-sport program for kids in the summer. The program lets kids dabble in our programs like track and field, tennis, golf, soccer and more.
SENIORS FITNESS
We welcome New Yorkers 60+ to participate in free tennis lessons, yoga and fitness walking in neighborhood parks across the city. This six-week program takes place twice a week and all equipment is provided.
FAMILY ADVENTURE RACES
Our Family Adventure Races are exciting and free parent-child races that take place on an obstacle course in parks across the city. Family teams challenge one another as they tackle 12 activity stations that include hurdles, wall climbing, a javelin throw and more.
