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AccessibilityCommunity Parks Initiative Programming
We know that an active and programmed park plays a vital role in a connected community. Through the Community Parks Initiative, we are bringing enhanced programming to parks and playgrounds serving high-need communities, including games and sports for kids, fitness classes for adults, mobile libraries and more. Learn more about the programs offered by NYC Parks and partner organizations from around the city, and find a program near you.
Find a Program
Browse our interactive map to find a program serving a Community Parks Initiative neighborhood near you.
Types of Programs
Here are just some of the programs offered in Community Parks Initiative neighborhoods. Find a program you like, or find a park to learn more about its local offerings.
Kids in Motion
Kids in Motion is designed to get kids into playgrounds, and to introduce them to physical activity. Kids in Motion staff members lead four to seven hours of free activities for children per day, including organized sports, games, fitness demos, guided walks, board games, water games and more. Thanks to the Community Parks initiative, this program has now been enhanced and expanded into additional high-need locations.
Find a Kids in Motion location
Summer Sports Experience
Kids aged 8-14 can receive free training in a variety of sports through the Summer Sports Experience, including baseball, basketball, flag football, futsal, lacrosse, soccer, Speedminton, track, ultimate frisbee, and volleyball. This program, meant for all ability levels, has been enhanced with funding from the Community Parks Initiative
Find a Summer Sports Experience location
Shape Up NYC
Shape Up NYC offers free weekly fitness classes at locations across the city. Enjoy free aerobics, yoga, pilates, zumba classes and more, all taught by trained volunteer fitness instructors.
Urban Park Rangers Programs
Our Urban Park Rangers help introduce New Yorkers to the natural world. To do so, they offer Ranger-led adventures each weekend, with opportunities that include canoeing, fishing, hiking, biking, and much more. They also educate thousands of children each year by giving teachers the opportunity to use the outdoors as Natural Classrooms. Through the Community Parks Initiative, the Rangers will increase their offerings in high-need zones.
Find an Urban Park Ranger program
Swimming Programs
Learning how to swim makes you healthy and keeps you safe. Each year, we teach thousands of children and adults how to stay safe in the water through our Learn to Swim program. Other aquatics programs offer opportunities to join a swim team, as well as special fitness opportunities for seniors and for people with disabilities.
Learn more about our Aquatics programs
City Parks Foundation Programs
City Parks Foundation creates programs in parks across all five boroughs of New York City. They offer arts programs such as dance, theater, music, and puppetry, educational and learning programs for teachers, students, and families, and free sports programs, including tennis, golf, track & field, and fitness.
Learn more about City Parks Foundation
GreenThumb Youth Leadership Council Gardens
GreenThumb, the nation's largest urban gardening program, has launched a pilot program in partnership with NYC Service, GenerationOn, and Grow2Learn known as the Youth Leadership Council. Through this program, members of participating gardens will receive leadership training to work collaboratively and becoming more involved in community gardening and civil service.
GreenThumb Farmer's Markets
GreenThumb will assist in the development of farmer's markets in high-need areas, where healthy food is otherwise scarce or inaccessible. This program will help build the capacity of community gardeners as entrepreneurs, develop connections between community gardeners and regional farmers, and increase the sustainability of community gardens in NYC.
The Uni Project
The Uni Project is a not-for-profit program that creates pop-up reading rooms with quality books and trained staff in outdoor spaces. Through a partnership with the Community Parks Initiative, the Uni Project is coming to playgrounds all across New York City this summer.
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