CityParks Play plays a central role in activating our mission to create vibrant and healthy urban communities through dynamic free sports programs in parks across New York City. We provide free instruction, coaching and equipment to more than 7,000 kids, ages 6 to 17, in nearly 60 locations citywide.
Join our seasonal coaching staff and help us keep NYC kids active this summer! We train and hire instructors to teach free beginner lessons to children from July through mid-August. Sessions are generally held on weekday mornings in parks across the city.
SummerStage season artwork by Eugenia Mello.
City Parks Foundation has opened registration for their free Fall Play sports programs. NYC youth ages 5 – 17 and seniors 60+ can participate in several outdoor sports and fitness programs and events throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx. Read the full announcement here.
City Parks Foundation is thrilled to partner with Nike to expand its highly successful free CityParks Soccer Program with the goal of increasing female participation. The program focuses on girls ages 13-16 and expands the existing beginner program offered to all youth ages 6-12. The new, all-female classes are designed to introduce soccer to teenage girls and to encourage them to keep playing throughout their young adulthood. Read the full announcement here.
City Parks Foundation awarded $500,000 in grant funding to 10 recipients through the 2024 NYC Green Fund Pathways Grants program, which supports systemic changes that will lead to a more equitable and resilient park and open space system, more and alternative funding sources, and improved operations between the city and its nonprofit and volunteer partners.
Read the full announcement here.
City Parks Foundation is pleased to announce the 2024 Dinner & Concert benefit fundraiser will take place Thursday, September 26 at their flagship SummerStage venue in Central Park. This year’s event will honor Hall of Fame tennis legend, NYC Icon, and philanthropist John McEnroe, and tennis commentator/star and philanthropist Patrick McEnroe jointly with the City Parks Foundation Icon Award, and Nadir Settles, Global Head of Real Estate Impact at Nuveen Real Estate, with the People & Parks Award. Guests will also enjoy special intimate performances by 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and legendary artist Peter Frampton and GRAMMY and Academy Award nominated singer/songwriter Patty Smyth. Smyth will be joined by an all-star house band led by special guest GRAMMY and Emmy winner Steve Jordan.
Read the full announcement here.
City Parks Foundation is thrilled to announce the 2024 season of Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage, New York City’s iconic outdoor performing arts festival, bringing 85 free and benefit shows to Central Park and 13 neighborhood parks across the five boroughs.
Read the full announcement here.
City Parks Foundation is excited to open registration for their Spring Learn environmental education programs.
Read the full announcement here.
City Parks Foundation is excited to open registration for their free Spring Play sports programs.
Read the full announcement here.
CityParks Play
City Park’s Foundation’s Free Youth Track Meet at Ocean Breeze was a Big Success! (March 26) – Staten Island Advance
Free Youth Golf Program at City Parks Foundation (May 17)– WPIX11
Free Youth Tennis Program at City Parks Foundation (July 17) – WNBC
Child Athletes get their day to shine at Track & Field Citywide Championships (August 12) – Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Tennis stars bring the game to NYC communities in time for US Open (August 27) – NBC New York
City Parks Foundation and Nike Bring New Youth Soccer Programs (September 26) – WNBC
CityParks Learn
Gardening with kids in NYC (March 25) – Mommy Poppins
Free summer youth environmental education programs (May 10) – News 12 Brooklyn
Free NYC summer program allows students to be amateur marine biologists (July 22) – CBS News
Classroom on the coastline inspires middle schoolers across the five boroughs (July 30) – NY1
SummerStage
Andra Day, Ethel Cain, Ghostface Killah, more lead New York’s SummerStage season (April 23) – Variety
SummerStage 2024 free show lineup (April 23) – Brooklyn Vegan
NYC’s SummerStage concert series just released its official lineup (April 24) – TimeOut NY
Andra Day is rising up with her first album in nine years– and taking the stage in Central Park for a free show (May 31) – New York Post
Happy 100th birthday Marshall Allen of Sun Ra Arkestra (May 25) – Brooklyn Vegan
What’s happening in classic arts this week (June 17) – Playbill
Federation Sound marks 25 years with free Caribbean concert in Coney Island (July 7) – PIX11
The Pharcyde, Slum Village, Rich Medina & Breakbeat Lou celebrated J Dilla at Herbert Von King Park (July 15) – Brooklyn Vegan
Bastille Day in New York City: French fun and activities (July 11) – Forbes
Darryl “DMC” McDaniels talks SummerStage concert in Queens this Sunday (July 18) – CBS News
NYC SummerStage festival returns for 2024: Schedule for free Staten Island events (July 3) – Staten Island Advance
Charlie Parker Jazz Festival returns to Harlem for 31st year (August 24) – CBS News
Watch Snail Mail celebrate Oasis reunion with “Supersonic” cover (August 29) – Rolling Stone
WNYC Turns 100: Join the party in Central Park on Monday (September 9) – Patch
CITYPARKS SHOWS: SWEDISH COTTAGE MARIONETTE THEATRE & PUPPETMOBILE
Return of CityParks PuppetMobile (May 23) – The City Life
Free Things to do With Your Kid in New York City this Summer (June 20) – Gothamist
CITYPARKS BUILD
How City Parks Foundation channels funds to small parks (February 28) – Inside Philanthropy
1,400 plants in the ground (April 25) – The Rockaway Times
2024 Queensboro Dance Festival Tour’s new partnerships and locations (April 25) – Queens Gazette
Block association hosts family-friendly “community volunteer day” (May 17) – West Side Rag
Peter Frampton & Patty Smyth to play City Parks Foundation benefit feting John McEnroe and Patrick McEnroe (July 10) – Yahoo Entertainment
City Parks Foundation awards Green Fund Pathways Grants (July 12) – Brooklyn Daily Eagle
City Parks Foundation hosts 26th annual tennis benefit at the 2024 US Open Tennis Championships (July 31) – Harlem World Magazine
US tennis legend Lindsay Davenport honored at City Parks’ annual tennis benefit (August 29) – QNS
Arbor Day foundation rallies partners for tree planting during Climate Week NYC (September 23) – Yahoo Finance
They can be serious: McEnroes honored by City Parks Foundation (October 1) – Hits Daily Double
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If you’re a member of the press interested in learning more about City Parks Foundation and any of our programs, please contact cityparksfoundation@dkcnews.com.
Interested in SummerStage? Contact summerstage@dkcnews.com.
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