Jane's Carousel celebrates its 13th year in Brooklyn with free rides and face painting all day long. Photo by Sara Marentette
Big Swim, Hippo Playground Festival, and More Things To Do in NYC this Weekend with Kids
Brooklyn Bridge Park invites visitors to celebrate spring with its Sound & Color Festival on Saturday, May 18. Photo by John Eng
29 Best Things To Do in NYC May 2024 with Kids
Hop the ferry to Governors Island to explore all the island has to offer. Photo by Diana Kim
33 Spring Staycations and Spring Day Trips from NYC for Families
Summer camps help kids develop social skills and have fun
GUIDE
NYC Summer Camp Guide
Enjoy a delicious Mother's Day brunch at Victory Garden Cafe in Astoria. Photo by Sydney Ng
Best Mother's Day Brunch in NYC
The stunning tulip blossoms spread out row-by-row in every direction at Holland Ridge Farms. Photo by Rose Gordon Sala
Beautiful Flower Farms near NYC for Pick-Your-Own Blooms
Climb on platforms dangling from ropes at Hester Street Playground. Photo by Jody Mercier
NYC's Best Playgrounds: 21 Parks Worthy of a Subway Schlep
Beautiful blooms and family time are guaranteed to make mom smile at the New York Botanical Garden's Mother's Day Weekend Garden Party. Photo by Marlon Co/courtesy of the New York Botanical Garden
25 Things To Do on Mother’s Day 2024 in New York City
The Green-Wood Cemetery has gorgeous cherry blossoms and amazing views. Photo by Amy Nieporent
Cherry Blossoms in NYC: Cherry Blossom Festivals and Where to See the Blooms
Registration is now open for the reasonably priced summer camps at YMCA locations in NYC.
Free and Cheap Summer Camps in NYC for Kids
Tea Around Town combines a sumptuous meal with a unique view NYC landmarks! Photo by Jody Mercier
25 Best NYC Tours for Families: From Boat Rides to Free Walking Tours and More
Twinkle Playspace in Williamsburg offers action-packed fun for kids of all ages.
21 Top Indoor Play Spaces in New York City
Diving into the sprinkle pool at the Museum of Ice Cream is a great way to cure rainy day blues. Photo by Jody Mercier
43 Things To Do on a Rainy Day Indoors in NYC
Kids can climb the walls—and more—at the Play Lab, one of our top picks for the best indoor playgrounds in Brooklyn.
Best Indoor Playgrounds and Play Spaces in Brooklyn for Kids
Take to the skies on Legoland New York's new Minifigure Skyflyer. Rendering courtesy of the resort
From Six Flags' The Flash to Legoland's Minifigure Skyflyer Here Are the Top Attractions Coming to Theme Parks near You
There's always a cool new piece of public art to see and interact with in NYC. Photo by Jody Mercier
101 Free Things To Do in NYC with Kids
Free activities for Kids in NYC include the Children's Museum of the Arts, which has pay-what-you-wish Thursdays from 4-6pm. Photo courtesy of the museum
GUIDE
Free Things To Do in NYC with Kids
DOROT's Manhattan Teen Internship Program pairs teens with older adults in need of companionship and aid.
Teens Can Apply Now for Summer Internships in NYC
The American Museum of Natural History's blue whale is an NYC icon, and the entire museum is one of the best children's museums in NYC. Photo by R. Mickens/courtesy of AMNH
Best Museums for Kids in NYC: Children's Museums and Family-Friendly Museums in NYC
NYC school kids head back to school on Thursday, September 7, 2023, according to the newly released NYC public school calendar. Photo by Al De Ingeniis
2023-24 NYC Public School Calendar: New Holidays, Plus 2024 & 2025 Calendars
Kids' classes like art lessons can help your NYC child grow and develop
GUIDE
Guide to NYC Classes for Kids
Big-name Broadway shows like &Juliet come at a premium prices, but there are ways to save on Broadway tickets. Photo by Aka NYC.
Discount Broadway Tickets: Six Ways to Save Big on Broadway Shows
See the skyline from a whole new vantage point on the Roosevelt Island Tram. Photo courtesy of NYCGo
100 Things To Do in NYC With Kids Before They Grow Up
The Brooklyn Museum is a premier art museum, with floors of treasures and outdoor art, too.
Brooklyn Museum Guide For Kids - Everything You Need to Know Before Your Family Visit
Get a birds eye view of the skyline from the Edge observation deck at Hudson Yards. Plan a visit near sundown to watch the city lights come to life. Photo by Jody Mercier
3 Days in NYC with Kids: Ultimate Itinerary by a Local Mom
Marty McFly finds himself transported back to 1955 in a time machine in
Guide to the Best Broadway Shows for Kids and Families
Enjoy a wild visit to the Philadelphia Zoo during a weekend getaway to the City of Brotherly Love. Photo courtesy of the zoo
13 Family-Friendly Weekend Getaways near NYC
The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk has 75 animal exhibits and is home to more than 7,000 animals. Photo courtesy of the aquarium
Best Aquariums to Visit from the NYC Metro Area with Kids
Get a Broadway-caliber serenade during a birthday dinner at Ellen's Stardust Diner.
Best Fun Restaurants for Kids' Birthdays in NYC
Feed a crowd with extra large, classic, New York-style pizza slices without breaking the bank. Photo by Jody Mercier
NYC on a Budget: Cheap Things To Do and Money Saving Tips for Families
These boredom-busting activities turn a stuck-at-home day into a lasting memory.
75 Indoor Activities for Kids on a Rainy Day
GUIDE
Guide to Kids' Birthday Parties in NYC
Discover the NYC-themed play space hidden inside the Toys
26 Free Things To Do Indoors in NYC: Free Places To Play Indoors on Cold and Rainy Days
The Peninsula New York rolls out the red carpet for kids—and their grown ups!
Family-Friendly Hotels in New York City with Perks for Kids
The Met offers pay-what-you wish admission at all times to New Yorkers and kids always attend for free. Photo by Jody Mercier
Free Museums and Free Museum Days in NYC for Kids
No visit to NYC is complete without an up-close encounter with the Statue of Liberty. Photo by Jess Laird
Top Attractions in NYC: Best Things To See and Do With Kids
Teach 'em to tie during downtime.
65 Life Skills to Teach Kids at Every Age
Photo courtesy of PLAY Greenpoint.
GUIDE
Indoor Play Spaces & Fun Zones in NYC
Creating a baking soda volcano is a classic science experiment for kids. Photo by Sara Marentette Nighswander
67 Easy Science Experiments for Kids To Do at Home
The Ausable Chasm has been described as the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks and it's one of our top 100 things to do in New York State with kids. Photo by Anna Fader
100 Things To Do in New York State with Kids Before They Grow Up
Hester Street Playground. Photo by Jody Mercier
GUIDE
Playgrounds & Parks NYC Guide
Take a hike with your little one on a family day trip from NYC.
GUIDE
Family Day Trips and Weekend Getaways for NYC Kids
Kids can while away hours of a day with a set of watercolors and a stack of new paper for painting.
Crafts for Kids: 100 Awesome Art Projects
GUIDE
Boredom Busters for Kids

Free Memberships Await as NYC Rec Centers Reopen

NYC's recreation centers are reopening, bringing free memberships and after-school programs. Photo courtesy of NYC parks
NYC's recreation centers are reopening, bringing free memberships and after-school programs. Photo courtesy of NYC parks
9/7/21 - By Jody Mercier

New York City's recreation centers are reopening with big perks for New Yorkers—FREE citywide, one-year memberships will be doled out to all visitors who sign up between Tuesday, September 7 and the end of the year.

The news comes amidst the final week of the season for the FREE public swimming pools housed at city rec centers and marks the first time most of the 36 indoor spaces have reopened since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Subscribe to our newsletters to get stories like this delivered directly to your inbox.

RELATED: Free After-School Program From NYC Parks Returns for 2021

To celebrate the grand reopening, city recreation centers are hosting a weeklong preview with fitness demonstrations, facility tours, and programming sneak peeks. Preview week runs from Tuesday, September 7 through Friday, September 10.

All visitors to recreation centers are required to wear masks at all times, and NYC Parks Department Recreation Center visitors are subject to the same COVID-19 vaccination requirements as those at commercial gyms; that is, all visitors ages 12+ must be vaccinated in order to use the facilities.

One notable exception to the reopening plans: Indoor pools remain shuttered for now, which means there's no timetable for the return of the popular FREE learn-to-swim classes, though the popular free after-school programs kick off programming on Monday, September 20.

Five recreation centers will not reopen right now. Kwame Ture and St. James Recreation Centers in the Bronx, plus Queens' Sorrentino center are being used to support the city's COVID-19 fight as testing or vaccination sites. St. Mary's, in the Bronx, and Brooklyn's Red Hook Recreation Center both sustained considerable damage during Hurricane Ida and are closed until further notice.