This week in parks throughout New York City, City Parks Foundation kicked off its 2018 Summer Sports Program for young people. The program started on July 2nd and concludes mid-to-late August, depending on the sport. City Parks Foundation provides over 12,000 New York City children free tennis, golf, soccer, track & field and fitness instruction including free use of equipment in nearly 60 locations citywide. Registration for programs is now open in person at each park site.
BNP Paribas is the presenting sponsor of CityParks Tennis. The LACOSTE FONDATION is also a sponsor of the program. CityParks Tennis provides free tennis lessons to children, ages six to 17, in 39 parks throughout the five boroughs. The program, one of the largest free municipal tennis programs in the United States, makes tennis instruction freely available to those who want to learn the game in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. Lessons for kids are offered at all skill levels. Opportunities include free beginner lessons, tournaments, leagues, excellence programs and special events. CityParks Tennis runs through August 13th and concludes with a fun tournament for beginners held at the Central Park Tennis Center and the BNP Paribas Aces Tournament for intermediates held at Flushing Meadows Park in mid-August.
CityParks Golf presented by LACOSTE Fondation and The First Tee NYC makes it fun and easy for boys and girls, ages six to 17, to learn to play golf in their own neighborhood. Free lessons are held once or twice a week in 13 public parks and include use of equipment. The program teaches kids the basics of the sport, and helps them develop self-esteem, discipline and sportsmanship. Dedicated players can ultimately try out for the CityParks Intermediate Program and Junior Golf Academy – specialized programs available at the CityParks Junior Golf Center, a facility in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn that also offers programming for beginners. CityParks Golf will be held in two four-week sessions, running from July 2nd through July 27th and an additional August session running from July 30 – August 23.
CityParks Track & Field, presented in partnership with New York Road Runners and supported by the Randall’s Island Park Alliance, held in 14 parks citywide, gives New York City kids, ages five to 17, the chance to learn the basics of the sport, from hurdles and relay races, to long jump, shot put and javelin throw. The program runs from July 2nd through August 15th in all five boroughs, and will have sessions twice per week. All participating youngsters have the opportunity to display the basic skills learned at the end of the season at an organized track meet held at Icahn Stadium, the world class sports complex on Randall’s Island, in mid August.
CityParks Soccer, presented in partnership with the New York City Football Club (NYCFC) and presented by CLIF Kid brings free youth soccer programming to 12 parks across the five boroughs. The program will run for five weeks beginning July 2nd through August 9th, with twice-weekly sessions for youth ages eight to 12. Participants will receive instructional tips and training from NYCFC and City Parks Foundation coaches before they are organized into teams for fun, “pick-up” style games.
Get Up and Go, presented in partnership with New York Road Runners, is an educational, multi-sport youth fitness program to be held twice weekly in 10 parks and playgrounds across the city, helping children ages six to 11 stay active this summer. Aerobic activities will include obstacle courses and relay races, as well as fun team games such as soccer and ultimate frisbee. The program will also introduce concepts such as goal setting and good sportsmanship. Get Up and Go will run July 2nd through August 10th and is supported by New York Road Runners.
After a successful launch last summer, City Parks Foundation will continue the program, Everyday Play, which takes place at both Brooklyn’s Kaiser Park and Williamsburg Oval in the Bronx. The program begins July 2nd and ends August 24th and will run Monday through Friday, offering children ages six to 17 a half-day of engaging sports activities. Running from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM, Everyday Play will feature Tennis, Soccer, Golf, Track & Field, and multi-sport instruction. At the Kaiser Park location, the daily schedule will also include breakfast and lunch, generously provided by Friends of Kaiser Park and the Alliance for Calvert Vaux Park.
This July and August, City Parks Foundation will also host Family Adventure Races in five locations — one park in each borough. Supported by New York Road Runners, these summer-favorite adventure races provide a healthy one hour dose of fun for family teams on Sunday mornings for ages eight to 12 with their parents. The timed races take place on an obstacle course featuring 12 activity stations, such as javelin throw, jump rope, hurdles, mini climbing wall and more. Team members must find each station and perform the required exercise together before advancing to the next station and a final dash to the finish line. Awards are given to all who participate, with special recognition to the top three finishers.
For more information and a full list of City Parks Foundation’s 2018 kids programs, please visit www.CityParksFoundation.org
2018 City Parks Foundation’s Sports Schedule
CityParks Tennis presented by BNP Paribas
July 2nd – August 28th, 2018
Bronx:
Haffen Park
Hammersley, Ely, & Gunther Aves.
Monday/Wednesday, 1 PM – 4 PM
Mill Pond Park
Gateway Center Blvd. (Exterior Street) & E. 150th Street
Monday/Wednesday, 1 PM – 4 PM
Pelham Bay Park
Bruckner Blvd. & Middleton Rd.
Tuesday/Thursday, 1 PM – 4 PM
St. James Park
Jerome Ave. & E. 193rd St.
Tuesday/Thursday, 1 PM – 4 PM
St. Mary’s Park
E. 145th St. & St. Ann’s Ave.
Monday/Wednesday, 1 PM – 4 PM
Van Cortlandt Park, Stadium
W. 242nd St. & Broadway
Tuesday/Thursday, 9 AM – 12 PM
Monday/Wednesday, 9 AM – 12 PM (Intermediate)
Williamsbridge Oval
E. 208th St. & Bainbridge Ave.
Monday/Wednesday, 9 AM – 12 PM
Woodlawn Park
W. 233rd St. & Jerome Ave.
Tuesday/Thursday, 9 AM – 12 PM
Brooklyn:
Bensonhurst Park
Cropsey Ave. & Bay Pkwy.
Tuesday/Thursday, 1 PM – 4 PM
Fort Greene Park
DeKalb Ave. & S. Portland Ave.
Monday/Wednesday, 9 AM – 12 PM
Highland Park
Elton St. & Jamaica Ave.
Tuesday/Thursday, 9 AM – 12 PM
Jackie Robinson Playground
Malcolm X. Blvd. & Chauncey St.
Tuesday/Thursday, 9 AM – 12 PM
Kaiser Park
Neptune Ave. & Bayview Ave.
Monday/Wednesday, 9 AM – 12 PM
Kelly Playground
Ave. S & E. 14th St.
Monday/Wednesday, 9 AM – 12 PM
Leif Ericson
8th Ave. & 66th St.
Tuesday/Thursday, 9 AM – 12 PM
Lincoln Terrace
Buffalo Ave. & E. New York Ave.
Monday/Wednesday, 1 PM – 4 PM
Marine Park
Fillmore Ave. & Stuart St.
Monday/Wednesday, 1 PM – 4 PM
McCarren Park
N. 13th St. between Bedford Ave. & Berry St.
Monday/Wednesday, 1 PM – 4 PM
McKinley Park
7th Ave. & 75th St.
Monday/Wednesday, 1 PM – 4 PM
Tuesday/Thursday, 1 PM – 4 PM (Intermediate)
Prospect Park
Parkside Ave. at the Parade Ground
Tuesday/Thursday, 1 PM – 4 PM
Manhattan:
Central Park Tennis Center
93rd St. near West Drive
Tuesday/Thursday, 1 PM – 4 PM
East River Park
Montgomery St. to E. 12th St. & F.D.R Drive
Tuesday/Thursday, 9 AM – 12 PM
Fred Johnson
151st St. east of 7th Ave.
Tuesday/Thursday, 9 AM – 12 PM
Inwood Hill Park
207th St. & Seaman Ave.
Monday/Wednesday, 1 PM – 4 PM
Riverside Park
Riverside Drive & W. 119th St.
Monday/Wednesday, 9 AM – 12 PM
Queens:
Alley Pond Tennis Center
Union Turnpike, Grand Central Pkwy. & Winchester Blvd.
Tuesday/Thursday, 9 AM – 12 PM
Astoria Park
Astoria Park South & 18th St.
Tuesday/Thursday, 9 AM – 12 PM
Baisley Pond Park
155th St. & 118th Ave.
Tuesday/Thursday, 1 PM – 4 PM
Brookville Park
Brookville Blvd. & Southern Pkwy.
Monday/Wednesday, 1 PM – 4 PM
Cunningham Park
Union Turnpike. & 193rd St.
Monday/Wednesday, 9 AM – 12 PM
Tuesday/Thursday, 9 AM – 12 PM (Intermediate)
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
New York Ave. & Meridian Rd.
Monday/Wednesday, 9 AM – 12 PM
Flushing Memorial Field
149th St. & 25th Ave.
Tuesday/Thursday, 1 PM – 4 PM
Forest Park
Myrtle Ave. & Woodhaven Blvd.
Monday/Wednesday, 1 PM – 4 PM
Juniper Valley Park
62nd Ave. & 80th St.
Monday/Wednesday, 9 AM – 12 PM
Tuesday/Thursday, 9 AM – 12 PM (Intermediate)
Kissena Park
Rose Ave. & Oak Ave.
Tuesday/Thursday, 1 PM – 4 PM
Staten Island:
Silver Lake Park
Hart Blvd. & Revere St.
Tuesday/Thursday, 9 AM – 12 PM
Tuesday/Thursday, 1 PM – 4 PM (Intermediate)
Skyline Park
Prospect Ave & Clyde Pl.
Monday/Wednesday, 1 PM – 4 PM
Wolfe’s Pond Park
Cornelia Ave. off of Highland Blvd.
Monday/Wednesday, 9 AM – 12 PM
CityParks Track & Field
July 2nd – August 15th, 2018
Bronx:
Macombs Dam Park
E. 161st St. & Jerome Ave.
Tuesday/Thursday, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (5-8 year olds) 10:30 AM – 12 PM (9-17 year olds)
Pelham Bay Park
Bruckner Blvd. & Middleton Rd.
Monday/Wednesday, 9 AM – 10:30 AM (5-8 year olds) 10:30 AM – 12 PM (9-17 year olds)
Williamsbridge Oval
E. 208th St. & Bainbridge Ave.
Tuesday/Thursday, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (5-8 year olds) 10:30 AM – 12 PM (9-17 year olds)
Brooklyn:
Betsy Head Playground
Strauss St. between Livonia Ave. & Dumont Ave.
Monday/Wednesday, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (5-8 year olds) 10:30 AM – 12 PM (9-17 year olds)
Linden Park
Linden Blvd. & Vermont St.
Tuesday/Thursday, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (5-8 year olds) 10:30 AM – 12 PM (9-17 year olds)
Kaiser Park
Neptune Ave. & Bayview Ave.
Tuesday/Thursday, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (5-8 year olds) 10:30 AM – 12 PM (9-17 year olds)
Manhattan:
Asser Levy Playground
E. 112th Street & 1st Ave.
Monday/Wednesday, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (5-8 year olds) 10:30 AM – 12 PM (9-17 year olds)
Thomas Jefferson Park
First Ave. & E. 112th St.
Tuesday/Thursday, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (5-8 year olds) 10:30 AM – 12 PM (9-17 year olds)
Queens:
Astoria Park
Astoria Park South & 18th St.
Monday/Wednesday, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (5-8 year olds) 10:30 AM – 12 PM (9-17 year olds)
Baisley Pond Park
155th St. & 118th Ave.
Monday/Wednesday, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (5-8 year olds) 10:30 AM – 12 PM (9-17 year olds)
Detective Keith Williams Playground
173rd St. & 105th Ave.
Tuesday/Thursday, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (5-7 year olds) 10:30 AM – 12 PM (8-16 year olds)
Forest Park
Myrtle Ave. & Woodhaven Blvd.
Monday/Wednesday, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (5-8 year olds) 10:30 AM – 12 PM (9-17 year olds)
Juniper Valley
62nd Ave. & 80th St.
Tuesday/Thursday, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (5-8 year olds) 10:30 AM – 12 PM (9-17 year olds)
Staten Island:
Corporal Thompson Park
Broadway & Henderson Ave.
Monday/Wednesday, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (5-8 year olds) 10:30 AM – 12 PM (9-17 year olds)
CityParks Golf presented by René Lacoste Foundation
Session One: July 2nd – July 27th, 2018
Session Two: July 30th – August 24th, 2018
Online pre-registration required
Bronx:
Crotona Park (Open Field South of Cary Leeds Tennis Center)
1720 Crotona Ave.
Saturday, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (6-8 year olds) 10:30 AM – 12 PM (9-17 year olds)
Williamsbridge Oval
East 208th Street & Bainbridge Ave.
Monday/Wednesday, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (6-8 year olds) 10:30 AM – 12 PM (9-17 year olds)
Pelham Bay Park
Bruckner Blvd & Middleton Rd.
Tuesday/Thursday, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (6-8 year olds) 10:30 AM – 12 PM (9-17 year olds)