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 7,000 kids, ages 6 to 17, and more than 1,000 seniors in locations citywide.
We help kids stay active, develop athletic skills, and make new friends.
View our program overview here.
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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.
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 Staten Island or at the Golf Center Annex in Queens.
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.
City Parks Foundation is also excited to offer programming at our junior golf training facility at LaTourette Golf Course on Staten Island. The facility will utilize 6-stalls at the driving range, a brand new putting green and chipping area for free instruction for all ability levels. The program will consist of the same skill-based First Tee classes offered at the CityParks Junior Golf Center (Brooklyn) and the Junior Golf Center Annex (Flushing Meadows Pitch and Putt).
Practice facilities at the Golf Center are open to New York City residents ages 6-17. Free membership includes the use of junior clubs and practice areas, invitations to special golf events, and discounts on equipment.
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 6-17 and includes activities like long jump, shot put, hurdles, discus, javelin, and track.
Our soccer coaches are here to share their love of the sport, using fun exercises and drills to introduce kids to the “beautiful game” of soccer. Participants learn how to pass, dribble, and kick through informal team scrimmage play and instruction. At the end of the program, dedicated participants are invited to compete in a one-day tournament.
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.
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.
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.
Generous private support for CityParks Play programs is provided by The New York Community Trust – The George and Valerie Delacorte Fund, The Linda B. and Howard S. Stern Family Foundation, The First Tee, The Thompson Family Foundation, Life Time Foundation, The Amazin’ Mets Foundation, The Weininger Foundation, the USTA Foundation, Women’s Tennis Association Charities, L+M Development Partners, New York Foundation for Eldercare, Neuberger Berman Foundation, Public Housing Community Fund, American Golf Foundation, Randall’s Island Park Alliance, Wadsworth Golf Charities Foundation, The Venable Foundation, USTA Eastern, and the LPGA Foundation. Generous public support is provided by Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine; the NYC Council under the leadership of Speaker Adrienne Adams, including Council Member Council Member Alexa Aviles, Council Member Chris Banks, Council Member Joseph Borelli, NYC Majority Whip Selvena Brooks-Powers, Council Member Gale Brewer, Council Member Tiffany Caban, Council Member Eric Dinowitz, Council Member Rita Joseph, Council Member Shekar Krishnan, Council Member Farah Louis, Council Member Kristy Marmorato, Council Member Julie Menin, Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, Council Member Yusef Salaam, Council Member Sandra Ung, and Council Member Nantasha Williams. Supporting Sponsors Nike, BNP Paribas, Lacoste, Brooks Running Shoes.
At City Parks Foundation, our mission is to encourage New Yorkers to use their neighborhood parks by offering free environmental education, arts, sports, and community-building programs that bring people into their local green spaces. Please give now if you can—we know that city parks will continue to thrive when all New Yorkers get involved.
