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Central Park (Sheep Meadow)
Central Park is the most commercial of all NYC picnic spots, but its manicured lawns are just too beautiful to not mention. If you forgot to bring food, don’t worry! The perk of picnicking in the middle of Manhattan is that there are many food carts around for whenever you feel peckish. Bring a football or frisbee so that your kids can run around and play while you sunbathe in the middle of the famous of the Sheep Meadow. If you plan to picnic in August, make sure to come later in the day and stay for the Central Park Film Festival that takes place between Sheep Meadow and 72nd Street. Stay tuned for this year’s lineup! 1802 65th St Transverse, 212-310-6600, centralparknyc.org.
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Prospect Park (Long Meadow)
This spacious Brooklyn establishment is the ideal place for a picnic. The Long Meadow in the north of the park is almost a mile of undisturbed grassland (the longest stretch of any U.S. urban park, actually) where you and your family can play volleyball, hacky-sack, or hot-potato. If you get tired of basking in the sun then you can go boating and explore the park’s 55 acres of waterfront on a selection of single or double kayak and pedal boat rentals. Prospect Park, 70 West Drive, Brooklyn, prospectpark.org.
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Tompkins Square Park
If your family is full of basketball fans, then this is the place for you. Visit the north area of the park and play ball on one of the basketball courts. After everyone is sufficiently tired, head to the central area of the park and unfold your blanket for a well-deserved break. Grab some bagels from the adjacent Tompkins Square Bagels or some hot dogs and ice cream at Ray’s Candy Store. Maybe after the quick bite your kids will even have the energy to play in the park’s playground. They’ll be asleep early that night after all the activities: We promise. East 10 Street, 212-639-9675, nycgovparks.org/parks/tompkins-square-park.
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Brooklyn Bridge Park
Brooklyn Bridge Park is known for its magnificent views of New York Harbor, Brooklyn Bridge, and Lower Manhattan. Now imagine that as the backdrop of a family summer cook-off. Brooklyn Bridge Park offers you hibachi-style grills where you can prepare your own meals at their Picnic Peninsula on Pier 5. If that’s too crowded, go to the picnic tables on Pier 6 alongside Liberty Lawn where you can catch a great view of the sunset. A freshly made meal off the grill with a view of the sun setting over Manhattan? Yes please! 334 Furman Street, Brooklyn, 718-222-9939, brooklynbridgepark.org.
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Inwood Hill Park
Unlike Central and Tompkins Square Park, where nature is never that far away from urban living, Inwood Hill Park is closer to a forest rather than a Manhattan park since it features the island’s original vegetation and dramatic caves, valleys, and ridges left as the result of shifting glaciers. For those who want to completely immerse themselves in nature, but not venture out too far from the city, this is the perfect place. For a steady workout, visit the park’s hiking and bike trails in the northern part of the park. For maintained lawns and picnic tables, go to the peninsula part of the park and relish in the sunshine. Payson Avenue and Seaman Avenue, 212-639-9675, nycgovparks.org/parks/inwood-hill-park.
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Fort Washington Park
For a fantastic view of the George Washington Bridge and the New Jersey Palisades, look no further than Fort Washington Park. Known as the location of Manhattan’s only lighthouse—the Little Red Lighthouse—the park is a great place for a family BBQ. Bring your own food and prepare it on any of the grills found on the south side of the park. With its numerous tennis, basketball, and baseball fields, the park invites athletes of all ages to play and maybe enjoy some friendly competition. Hudson River Greenway, 212-639-9675, nycgovparks.org/parks/fort-washington-park.
Relevant Directory Listings
See MoreCucu's PlayHouse
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;">Interactive, live-streaming music and movement class in Spanish for babies, toddlers and preschoolers!<br />Join us every day from Monday through Saturday at 1:30 pm EST to sing, dance and play together while learning Spanish from your home.</div> <div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;">&nbsp;</div> <div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;">This class is part of a Spanish Immersion Program where your child will be introduced to basic concepts like the animals, colors, numbers and letters. All of these through the universal language of Music. Each session is fun, interactive and engaging.<br />A selection of Children Songs in Spanish guides the class from start to finish. Activities are related to the lyrics, in order to familiarize the children with the words and their meanings. Some of the songs encourage the children to dance. Nilda uses puppets, musical instruments, and props to teach children basic vocabulary through action and interaction, rather than through translation.</div> <div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; background-color: #ffffff;"><br />The classes are streamed on Zoom's webinar platform. Participants (children, parents, nannies) are able to join the video from their homes and interact with us in real-time, it is a fun and engaging experience.</div>
British Swim School - Long Island
<p>The premier learn-to-swim provider for people of all ages, offering programs for children ages 3-months through adults.&nbsp; British Swim School uses gentle teaching methods and a survival-first approach to help people of all experience levels become safer, stronger swimmers. British Swim School&rsquo;s safe, fun, and effective instructional program has made it the preferred choice for parents and students for over 40 years. Come see the British Swim School difference!</p>
Super Soccer Stars
<p>Soccer Stars is New York&rsquo;s most popular youth educational soccer program! With 24 years of experience under our cleats, we have positively impacted over one million kids in our local community by putting the FUN in FUNdamentals in our weekly classes and camps.</p> <p>At Soccer Stars, we use the soccer ball as a vehicle to help children not only improve their soccer skills, but develop self-confidence and physical literacy, improve gross motor skills, build teamwork, and hone socialization skills. Our highly trained coaches and early childhood experts lead an age-specific curriculum with a low kid-to-coach ratio so every child gets individual attention and can grow at their own pace.</p> <p>Kids ages 1-12+ can join our seasonal programs, including Parent &amp; Me, FUNdamentals, Development Training, and Travel Soccer. Join us at one of over 80 locations in neighborhoods across across Westchester County, Connecticut and New York, available 7 days-a-week:</p> <p><strong>Connecticut:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Cos Cob</li> <li>Greenwich</li> <li>Port Chester</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Westchester:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Briarcliff</li> <li>Eastchester</li> <li>Mt. Kisco</li> <li>New Rochelle</li> <li>Ridgefield</li> <li>Scarsdale</li> <li>White Plains</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>New York City:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Bronx</li> <li>Inwood</li> <li>Upper West Side</li> <li>Upper East Side</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Can&rsquo;t find a class or location that fits your schedule? Soccer Stars also offers private classes for small groups or individual training. Let our coaches come to you with a completely customizable program, anytime, anywhere. Birthday parties are also available!&nbsp;</p>