Free Summer Sports Activities for Kids in NYC

If your shrink gave you a word association test for the first words that came to your mind when she said "New York City Kids", I'm betting money that the next words out of your mouth wouldn't be "Outdoor Sports" and "Free." But, shockingly, NYC has plenty of outdoor sports activities for kids. And even more surprisingly, a bunch of these summer activities are completely free and open to anyone. Below is a list of some pretty outstanding free outdoor activities for kids this summer that may make you forget you live in the city.

City Parks Foundation Children's Free Sports Programs

The City Parks Foundation 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.

CityParks 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 37 city parks throughout the five boroughs of NYC. Children finish off each summer playing in a tennis tournament.

CityParks Golf makes the sport of golf accessible in a fun and easy environment to 5 to 16 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.

CityParks 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 from July 9th thru August 14th in 13 locations throughout New York. 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

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 or hiking clubs. 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. We start 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.

The Parks Department also offers an inexpensive Junior Ranger Day Camp. The Junior Ranger program is open to kids ages 8-11. It runs from the beginning of July to mid-August, in locations in northern Manhattan and Brooklyn. Participants learn such skills as fishing, canoeing, orienteering, team-building, restoring trails, and building wildlife habitats. Not free, but very affordable compared to most camps.

The Central Park Conservancy Outdoor Kits

Discovery Kit Backpacks containing binoculars, a guidebook, maps, and sketching materials are available free of charge from the Central Park Conservancy at the Henry Luce Nature Observatory at Belvedere Castle (mid-Park at 79th Street) for children to enjoy the excellent birding available in Central Park.

Field day Kits are available at the North Meadow Recreation Center. Kits include a basketball, 10 cones, 3 bats, horse shoe set, playground ball, nerf ball, football, Frisbee, 2 handballs, soccer ball, jump rope, 2 whiffle balls, hula hoops for an exciting trip or family outing in the Park.

Battery Park City Parks Programs

Battery Park City Parks Conservancy offers many free and inexpensive events and programs for preschoolers, kids and teens, including Gardening, Young Naturalists, Fishing and more. Toys, games and play equipment can also be borrowed from the kiosk just south of Rockefeller Park.

Kayaking on the Hudson

The Downtown Boathouse offers free kayaking on the Hudson to anyone who can swim at three locations. Children under the age of 16 must ride in a double kayak with a parent.

Fishing in Central Park

The best place to fish is at the Harlem Meer, located at the northeast corner of the Park. The Meer is stocked with a wide variety of fish, including golden shiner, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed sunfish, bluegill sunfish, carp, and chain pickerel. Bamboo fishing poles are available free of charge (if you have a valid picture I.D.) from mid-April to mid-October at The Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, located on the north shore of the Harlem Meer at 110th Street between Lenox Avenue and Fifth Avenue.

Macy's Fishing Tournament

The R.H. Macy's Fishing Contest has been an annual event in Prospect Park since 1947. The contest runs for a week each July and is open to kids 15 years old or under. Equipment is provided free of charge or participants can bring their own. All fishing is done on a catch-and-release basis; fish must be returned to the Lake alive.

Ice Skating at Chelsea Piers

If your kids need a break from all that fun in the sun, Chelsea Piers offers free ice skating on Sunday afternoons throughout the summer. Skate rental is additional. rental on Sundays throughout the summer. Admission is reduced to only $5 per person. (updated 7/08)

Info about the Free Parks Department Sports Programs have been updated in our more recent post: Free Sports Programs in NYC Parks

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