CityParks Play’s instruction keeps more than 7,100 children ages 6 – 17 healthy and active in parks while learning sports they can play for life — tennis, soccer, golf, and track & field. Beginner and intermediate classes are offered around the city, while more advanced coaching and tournament training is available at the kids-only Junior Golf Center and Junior Golf Annexes, and through the Lacoste Junior Tennis Academy. In partnership with Nike, our Girls Forward program provides teenage girls ages 13-16 with a safe and empowering space to play and stay in sports. Fitness programs — yoga, tennis, pickleball, tai chi, and fitness walking — help keep more than 1,000 seniors agile and connected to their communities.
View our program overview here.
Interested in sponsorship opportunities? View our partnership deck here.
Want to work with CityParks Play? Learn more about our job opportunities.
Girls Forward is a citywide initiative in partnership with Nike to provide teenage girls ages 13-16 with a safe and empowering space to play and stay in sports. Dedicated instructional classes for girls in tennis, golf, track and soccer are led by female coaches at public parks throughout the 5 boroughs. Participants will also have access to special events, pro-clinics, motivational talks and workshops to develop self confidence and encourage their continued engagement in sports.
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.
We introduce golf and the life lessons the game teaches to kids ages 6-17 in their own neighborhoods during the summer by transforming park ball fields into driving ranges and practice greens. We also offer free instruction and on-course play for all ability levels at our 3 junior golf centers in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island.
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 Leslie Feely Youth Tennis Endowment, The Linda B. and Howard S. Stern Family Foundation, The First Tee – Metropolitan NYC, The Thompson Family Foundation, The Amazin’ Mets Foundation, The Weininger Foundation, the USTA Foundation, Life Time 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, American Seniors Golf Association, Randall’s Island Park Alliance, The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation, Wadsworth Golf Charities Foundation, The Venable Foundation, USTA Eastern, and the LPGA Foundation. Generous public support is provided by NYC Department of Youth & Community Development;: 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, NYC Majority Whip Selvena Brooks-Powers, Council Member Gale Brewer, Council Member Tiffany Cabán, 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 Althea Stevens, Council Member Sandra Ung, and Council Member Nantasha Williams. Supporting Sponsors Nike, BNP Paribas, Lacoste, Brooks Running Shoes.
We’ll be in touch with upcoming job opportunities at CityParks Play! See a full list of open positions here.
Because of you, NYC’s kids are learning how to protect our environment and being introduced to a new sport for life, community volunteers are transforming a green space in need of care, and free world-class performing arts are being brought to our parks all around the city—all for free. When you support City Parks Foundation's free programs, you are helping our parks, our communities, and our city thrive.
