Best Places to Play Sports in New York City

This is the first time you are in New York City and you search for best places to run, bicycle, swim or play football, baseball, golf, etc. Or you want to make a long plan like playing basketball first, then table tennis and then walk for a few miles in the same place. In fact, this is not only for a newcomer but also for those who have been living in New York City for years to discover more. Where are the best places to play sports in New York City? Where is the nearest place to play sports in New York City?

New York City is one of the most popular cities in the World. The city has 5 boroughs and all boroughs have parks, and places to play all sorts of sports. Parks have different kind of trees and a beautiful view, as well. Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx or Central Park in Manhattan, and many other parks and playing centers are very good places for playing sports.

In this article, I gathered more than 100 sports places that you can run, bicycle, swim, canoe or play sports. I hope you will like it. 

The Questions we will answer:

  1.   1. What is the population of New York City?
  2.   2. What are the famous sports in New York City?  
  3.   3. Where are the best places to play sports in New York City Boroughs?
  4.   4. Where is the nearest place to play sports in New York City?

Getting to Know New York City

  • The above bullets, especially the population density, shows how much crowded the city is.

World symbol The Statue of Liberty, iconic Times Square, Broadway Theatres, Chinatowns, Wall Street, skyscrapers, parks, colleges, and universities are the good reasons why New York City is one of the most visited and photographed cities in the world.

Baseball and American Football (called as Football in the US) are the most popular sports in the United States followed by Basketball. These are followed by football (called as soccer in the US), tennis, golf, etc. 4 Major leagues are Major League Baseball (MLB), National Basketball Association (NBA), the National Football League (NFL) and National Hockey League (NHL). These are then followed by Major League Soccer (MLS) and Canadian Football League (CFL).

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According to the post “The World’s Most Valuable Sports Teams” released by Forbes in 2018, New York has 3 teams in the top 10, all are over $3 billion. These 3 teams are New York Yankees (Baseball, the Bronx), New York Knicks (Basketball, Manhattan) and New York Giants (American Football).

Other than these, there are professional teams such as New York Jets(American Football), New York City (Football), New York Rangers(Hockey, Manhattan), New York Islanders(Hockey, Brooklyn), St John’s Red Storm men’s basketball, New York Cosmos(Football), New York Americans (Hockey), Charlotte Hornets(American Football).

This data directly matches the most famous sports that you can do in New York. I will not focus on professional players or sports. This article aims to find good places to play sports. Below you will find the best places you can do these sports and the details of these places such as barbecue, WiFi, bathroom, etc. features, number of courts, etc.

1. Which sports can you do in the Bronx?

Pelham Bay Park, Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx Park, Soundview Park, and Crotona Park are the biggest 5 featured parks in the Bronx, New York City. With a 2,771.75 acreage, Pelham Bay is three times bigger than the Central Park in Manhattan. In these 5 parks, other than walking, running and bicycling, you can enjoy the beach, play golf, basketball, bocce, handball, tennis, baseball, American Football, and roller hockey. Moreover, you can kayak/canoe and ride a horse. For billiards, table tennis and volleyball, I can add Williamsbridge Oval to the list. For more details on each park, you can go to the details below.

The below list will guide you on “what sports can you do in the Bronx?” and “Where exactly can you play these sports in the Bronx?” Clicking the image will send you all listed Arenas in the Bronx. The list on the right side of the image shows Arenas one by one with the sports you can play as icons. Going in the details, you will find more…

2. Which sports can you do in Brooklyn?

Marine Park and Prospect Park should be the first address for you want to run, bicycle, do fitness and play baseball, tennis. The two park is one of the biggest parks in Brooklyn. Additionally, you can play American football, basketball, bocce, cricket, football, handball, golf and do kayak/canoe in Marine Park. You can also do fishing in Prospect Park.

Brooklyn Bridge Park will welcome you for swimming, volleyball, roller&skate, and foosball. And the park has a great view, especially in the night. And you can visit Break Bar & Billiards for billiards, darts, table tennis, and foosball.

The below list will guide you on “what sports can you do in Brooklyn?” and “Where exactly can you play these sports in Brooklyn?” Clicking the image will send you all listed Arenas in Brooklyn. The list on the right side of the image shows Arenas one by one with the sports you can play as icons. Going in the details, you will find more…

3. Which sports can you do in Manhattan?

Central Park. It is most probably the most famous park in the world. Such a huge park, in the heart of the city. I must underline that it is not just a park you can walk, or sit on the grass. It also has a diversity of sports playing areas such as baseball, basketball, football, handball, tennis, and volleyball. Moreover, you can do fishing, fitness, horseback riding, and kayak/canoe. You can even swim

Thomas Jefferson ParkRiverside Park, and Inwood Hill Park are the other big and “sports area rich” parks that you can find playing areas for similar sports. Thomas Jefferson Park has American Football and billiards other than Central Park. Riverside Park is has a very beautiful view that I suggest you for a walk or run in.

Adding Randall’s Island Park to the list will bring us Golf, Cricket, and American football. For table tennis, darts, shuffleboard, foosball, and billiards adding Slate NY and Amsterdam Billiards & Bar will enlarge our sports areas in Manhattan.

The below list will guide you on “what sports can you do in Manhattan?” and “Where exactly can you play these sports in Manhattan?” Clicking the image on the left will send you all listed Arenas in Manhattan. Below list shows Arenas one by one with the sports you can play as icons. Going in the details, you will find more…

4. Which sports can you do in Queens?

Flushing Meadows Corona Park is the biggest park in Queens with a nearly 900 acres. You can play lots of sports in the park like American football, basketball, baseball, football, handball, golf, tennis, and volleyball. Furthermore, you can go fishing, fitness, kayak/canoe, roller&skate, run&bicycle, and swim

Alley Pond Park and Forest Park, the other big parks with 635 and 500 acres, have similar different sports playing options. Adding Baisley Pond Park and Cunningham Park to the list will bring you cricket and Bocce options. 

For Air Hockey, billiards, foosball, and shuffleboard, Blue Storm will be a good option where you will find all in one place. For table tennis, bowling, darts, etc. please look for the list below.

The below list will guide you on “what sports can you do in Queens?” and “Where exactly can you play these sports in Queens?” Clicking the image will send you all listed Arenas in Queens. The list on the right side of the image shows Arenas one by one with the sports you can play as icons. Going in the details, you will find more…

* do not have details yet.

5. Which sports can you do in Staten Island?

Franklin D. Roosevelt Boardwalk and Beach is a long 645-acre park on the east coast of Staten Island where you can enjoy volleyball, kayak/canoe, handball, bocce, baseball, basketball, roller&skate.

On the north side of Staten Island, you can go to Clove Lakes Park and Silver Lake Park. These parks are very close. In these 2 parks, you can play football, American football, baseball, basketball, golf, and tennis. And you can go fishing and do fitness and ice skate too.

On the south side of Staten Island, you can go to Wolfe’s Pond Park and Lemon Creek Park which are very close, too. In these 2 parks, you can enjoy tennis, swimming, cycling, roller skate, fishing, and kayak/canoe.

The below list will guide you on “what sports can you do in Staten Island?” and “Where exactly can you play these sports in Staten Island?” Clicking the image will send you all listed Arenas in Staten Island. The list on the right side of the image shows Arenas one by one with the sports you can play as icons. Going in the details, you will find more…

* do not have details yet.

Conclusion

New York City, with a population of 8.6 million, offers a variety of different playing, running, cycling places and excellent views. Parks are the very first places and bars, cafes are the other places for billiards, bowling, darts, etc. I listed 115 places in this article most of them have links to details. I will try to add new places, hope you like.