City Parks Foundation is bringing free youth sports programming back to parks across New York City this summer through CityParks Play.
Programs will run from July through August and include tennis, soccer, track and field, golf and multi-sport sessions in neighborhood parks across the five boroughs.
In Brooklyn, activities will take place at sites including Prospect Park, McCarren Park, Betsy Head Park, Fort Greene Park, Sunset Park, Marine Park and Kaiser Park. Sessions are designed to introduce fundamentals, build skills and provide structured physical activity for youth during the summer months.
“CityParks Play is about more than sports. Summer is a critical time to keep young people active, engaged and connected,” said Director of CityParks Play Jonathan Gamberg. “By offering free programs in parks across the city, we’re helping kids discover new interests, build confidence and enjoy the benefits of being outdoors with their peers.”
The track and field program teaches sprints, relays, hurdles, long jump, shot put and javelin. A citywide meet is held at Icahn Stadium at the end of the season. Soccer programming focuses on passing, dribbling and shooting through drills and scrimmages, with select players invited to a summer tournament.
Tennis instruction uses drills and games to teach technique and match play, with weekly competition opportunities for more experienced participants. Golf programming offers beginner to advanced instruction in partnership with The First Tee of Metropolitan New York.
Girls Forward, developed in partnership with Nike, provides free sports programming for girls ages 13 to 16. The program includes soccer, tennis, golf, track and field and flag football. Female coaches lead it and focuses on participation, skill development and team play.
Everyday Play is a free multi-sport program for youth ages 6 to 17 that rotates activities throughout the week, including tennis, soccer, golf, track and field and fitness. Sessions are designed to introduce multiple sports in a structured setting, combining instruction with games and skill-based activities. The program runs on weekday mornings at select Brooklyn parks, offering consistent summer access to varied physical activity in a supervised environment.
Golf instruction is available at the CityParks Junior Golf Center, where participants receive equipment, coaching and practice time while learning basic technique and course readiness.
Programs run from July through August at Prospect Park, McCarren Park, Betsy Head Park, Fort Greene Park, Sunset Park, Marine Park and Kaiser Park. Sessions generally take place on weekday mornings, with most activities scheduled between 9:00am and noon with some soccer programming running from 9:00am to 11:00am on select days. Schedules vary by site and sport, with rotating weekday sessions throughout the summer.
Programs are free for youth ages 6 to 17. Registration is open on a rolling basis and advance sign-up is required due to limited space. More information is available through City Parks Foundation’s CityParks Play program.
