Public Sports Courts and Fields in NYC [Locations]
So, you’re a weekend warrior and want to find the nearest tennis court, basketball hoop, softball field or ice rink in NYC. Don’t worry, New York Weekends has you covered. First let’s talk about “the rules of the road” when it comes to reserving these venues.
NYC Basketball – generally there are no reservations required, and it’s first come first serve. This does not mean that all basketball courts are like this, but because just about every school and park has these “a plenty,” most of the time you can just walk up and play.
NYC Baseball/Softball – Okay, this is completely different. The land value of a baseball field in NYC is generally tens of millions of dollars. These fields are big enough for Donald Trump to build his next mega-plex, so there are far fewer of them around. Undoubtedly you will need to reserve your time, and depending on the location, it may take months to get on the schedule, so pay close attention on how to reserve a field below.
NYC Football – Ditto, on steroids. These venues are more rare than hen’s teeth and every real estate developer within the Tri-state region wants them.
NYC Hockey – There aren’t many, but the number of players isn’t nearly as tough.
NYC Tennis – Tennis is more akin to Basketball. Yes a little larger footprint, but you should be able to get court time. Reservations are generally required.
Where are the goods???
According to the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, the official purveyor of all free sports venues in NYC, the following inventory exists in the city, just waiting for you:
Manhattan has 117 basketball courts, 31 softball/baseball fields, and 6 football fields;
Brooklyn has 171 basketball courts, 49 softball/baseball fields, and 14 football fields;
The Bronx has 110 basketball courts, 53 softball/baseball fields and 15 football fields;
Queens has 161 basketball courts, 72 softball/baseball fields, and 10 football fields; and
Staten Island has 133 basketball courts, 20 softball/baseball fields, and 7 football fields.
Reserving your spot in line
How do you find one of these venues near you, and importantly how do you reserve the space? Simply click here to go to the Department of Parks and Recreation “facilities location” web-page where they list the address of every location above.
What about non-team sports? NYC has plenty of them. There are 29 running trails, and 21 bike paths. Not to mention that many people just choose to fight the crowds on these and hit the city streets. A little more dangerous, but seen all the time…
Whether you’re visiting NYC for the weekend from out of town, or are a local looking for something to do, New York has the best free public sports venues in the world for the weekend athlete.
Have fun
