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Central Park is a sports enthusiast's paradise. Offering everything from baseball to croquet, row boating to basketball, this is the place to enjoy the great outdoors, get fit, and just relax. Below is a comprehensive list of sports available to Park users in addition to the Central Park Conservancy's Recreation Programs at the North Meadow Recreation Center. Click on any sports link below for more information on how to participate in that sport in Central Park.
Baseball/Softball
Come to Central Park and play that most American of games - baseball and softball. Click on baseball/softball to learn how.
Basketball
In the mood for a game of hoops? A little one-on-one? Participate in the Central Park Conservancy's Youth Basketball Clinics and Tournaments, or click on basketball for information on where to play in Central Park.
Bicycle Riding
Central Park offers cyclists of all ages a challenge as they navigate its 6.1 miles of drives. For more infomation, click on bicycle riding.
Birding
Listen carefully and try to find the birds making music in Central Park. Not only is birding fun, educational, and relaxing, but you get to discover parts of Central Park you never knew were there. 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 on an ongoing, year-round basis.
Chess and Checkers
Exercise your mind with a challenging game of chess or checkers at the Chess & Checkers House, a visitor center located mid-Park at 64th Street.
Cross-Country Skiing
Feel the swoosh and glide of the snow as you cross-country ski in Central Park, and forget you are in the middle of Manhattan.
Fishing
Catch and release fishing is allowed year-round in the Harlem Meer (located in the northeast corner of Central Park), and if you visit the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center during the warmer months of the year, you can even borrow a rod and bait for free through the Central Park Conservancy's Catch & Release Fishing program.
Football
The North Meadow's wide open plush fields are in peak condition after a $4.3 million restoration, and are the perfect setting for a game of football.
Handball
Click on handball for information on Central Park's 12 handball courts.
Horseback Riding
Whether one canters or trots along Central Park's bridle paths, horseback riding provides a unique view of the Park's horticulture, wildlife, and recreation enthusiasts. For more information, click on horseback riding.
Ice Skating
Feel the nip of New York's crisp winter air, enjoy the music, and take in the incomparable surroundings as you ice skate at either of Central Park's ice rinks. Participate in the Central Park Conservancy's After-School Ice-Skating program for children this winter, or click here to learn where you can ice skate on your own in Central Park.
In-Line and Roller Skating
Central Park's hilly and flat terrains are a challenge to all in-line and roller skaters and dancers. For more information click on in-line and roller skating.
Kite Flying
Enjoy one of our open landscapes as you watch your kite soar through the skyline. Click on kite flying for more information.
Lawn Sports
Central Park has two beautifully kept fields for lawn bowling and croquet. Click on lawn sports for more information.
Model Boat Sailing
Adults and children alike rejoice at successfully navigating model sail boats across Conservatory Water, so why not try your hand at model boat sailing.
Paddleball
Click on paddleball for more information on where to this game in Central Park.
Row Boating
Row your boat across Central Park's Lake, or hire a venetial gondolier to row you about. Click on row boating to learn how.
Running/Jogging
Offering both hilly and flat terrain, and a combination of surfaces, Central Park is a runner's paradise. The site of the New York Marathon's final 3.2 miles, Central Park offers many scenic views while providing a challenge to all levels of runners. For more information, click on running/jogging.
Soccer
Participate in a game of soccer on the newly renovated North Meadow's 16 acres of lush green lawn. Fields # 7 and 8 at the Great Lawn are reserved for youth soccer games.
Swimming
This summer, go swimming and cool off at one of New York's and Central Park's best kept secrets - Lasker Pool.
Tennis
Central Park's Tennis Center offers 26 clay and 4 asphalt courts. Click on tennis for more information.
Volleyball
Looking for a game of beach or lawn volleyball? Click on volleyball to find out where to play.
Walking/Speed Walking
Central Park's 250 acres of lawns and 136 acres of woodland offer a multitude of landscapes, trails, and pathways for everyone from the serious hiker to the recreational stroller. Central Park provides an unparalleled variety of picturesque landscapes for walkers of all levels. Participate in the Central Park Conservancy's Health Walking and Race Walking Clinics, or click on walking/speed walking for information about walking routes in Central Park.
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