Free Sports Programs for Kids in New York City Parks

The NYC Parks Department offers some really amazing sports programs that are (even more amazingly) FREE. NYC kids can do all sorts of sports from learning to swing a golf club or to play tennis to going fishing, paddling a canoe or even sleeping out under the stars—all for the sweet price of FREE. Your next thought is that these programs filled up in February, right? Not so, many of these programs require little if any advance registration and have gotten great reviews from our reader parents. We'll tell you all about the City Parks Foundation's and Urban Ranger's activities and how your city kids can be part of these free sports programs in the city parks this summer.

City Parks Foundation Children's Free Sports Programs offers free Tennis, Golf and Track and Field programs to kids in all five boroughs of New York. For all sports, equipment is provided for the children. For Tennis and Track & Field the spaces are given to whoever shows up and everyone is accommodated. For golf, it is a little different, there is a pre-registration, but it is an ongoing throughout the summer so there are plenty of opportunities to sign-up.

City Parks Tennis has three levels of instruction to meet the needs of all players: Pee Wee (ages 5-7); Beginner (ages 8 and up); and Intermediate (determined by ability). Lessons are offered at 36 city parks throughout the five boroughs of NYC. Children finish off each summer playing in a tennis tournament.

City Parks Golf makes the sport of golf accessible in a fun and easy environment to 6 to 17 year old kids of all skill levels throughout New York City. Two 4-week sessions run in July and August for beginner and intermediate level players.

The Parks Department also recently opened a brand new, state-of-the-art Junior Golf Center in Bay Ridge next to the Dyker Beach golf course that is just for kids. The CityParks Junior Golf Center offers free golf instruction to New York City children between the ages of 6-17 and they can play and learn on their own 6 hole golf course, practice putting and chipping greens, covered driving range and there's even a clubhouse. (Thanks reader, Althea for this tip!)

City Parks Track & Field gives New York City kids the chance to learn the basics of the sport, from hurdles and relay races to long jump, shot put and javelin throw. The program is open to boys and girls ages 5-16 and runs each summer in July and August. All participating children have the opportunity to display the basic skills learned at the end of each season at an organized track meet held at Icahn Stadium, the world class sports complex on Randalls Island.

Urban Park Rangers - run by the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation, Urban Park Rangers offer a slew of free outdoor programs for kids. You can find a calendar of their hiking, orienteering, canoeing, birding, and fishing activities for kids on their website or subscribe to the quarterly Outdoors in NYC newsletter with all the information you need to be an urban outdoorsman.

Join one of the Urban Park Rangers free Explorer Programs, family canoeing, birding, fishing, hiking and more. Developed in conjunction with the National Geographic Society, these programs help you experience New York City's 28,000 acres of parkland as you never have before and discover areas you never knew existed. You'll forget you're in the city entirely! Programs last about an hour and a half unless otherwise specified, and are guaranteed to bring out the explorer in everyone.

Friday and Saturday nights in July and August, families can join the Urban Park Rangers for a Family Camping experience at beautiful Alley Pond Park in Queens. It starts with a cookout, then a variety of evening activities, such as stargazing and nighthikes. You'll sleep under the stars and awake to breakfast. Everything is included. Free, but reservations are a must and must be made on a particular day.

Alley Pond Adventure Program offers summer camp options or on Sundays from 10-4pm July through November families can join free programs which are available on a first come first serve basis. The Adventure Program is a course that is designed to foster trust, problem solving, team-building and overcoming fear in a safe and secure environment.

BeFitNYC is a search engine at the Parks Department that allows you to find all sorts of activities for any age. If you visit nyc.gov/parks/befit nyc, you will find fitness classes, facilities and leagues nearby. Some spring/summer 2009 programs include Derek Jeter's Turn 2 Foundation Baseball Clincics at Chelsea Park, a four day clinic held in July for children ages 8-13 (advanced registration required), free yoga and pilates classes in various city parks, kayaking on the Hudson lessons and Paralympic Sport New York City--to name a few. 

For more free summer sports ideas check out our post on Free Summer Sports programs in NYC.