NYC PICKUP SOCCER

  Located in Chelsea Park, this artificial grass field is open to the public and is a nice little space to kick around with friends. There is a track around the park to run on too. This field is close to numerous restaurants nearby and good food options after you are done playing. Sometimes there are recreational leagues that play here during the weekend but not all the time, giving the public a chance to enjoy the field too. This park is great to come to during the Fall and Spring especially when the weather is perfect to play in.

  Randall's Island lies under the Triborough Bridge, which connects Manhattan/Bronx and Queens. There are dozens of artificial turf fields that exist here. They are open to the public when there is no official team practices. However, during the Fall and Spring this is a location where many club teams play so it might be harder to find open space than during the Summer. With that said, since there are so many fields available, one field is usually open. With views of the city skyline and water surrounding the island, this does make for a nice location to play. Since it is on an island though there are no real food options besides some vending machines. If you do come make sure to bring your own food or beverages as not every field has water stations.   

 Home of one of the most picturesque soccer field in NYC, Pier sits in Brooklyn Bridge Park. It lies right across from the river from the downtown city skyline. At night it offers some of the most beautiful city and river views. You can come play from 6am-11am any day of the week and there is usually free pick up games throughout the weeknights, especially during the summer when the weather is nice. There are sometimes travel or more competitive cosmopolitan teams or leagues that play here but more often than not this is a good place to come and play some free pickup soccer as it it a public park. There are nice casual options to eat nearby such as Shake Shack. The 2,3,4,5, A, C, F train lines all stop nearby with a 10 minute walk to the field. 

  Van Cortland Park, located in the Bronx on Broadway and W. 251st. This area is a public park that holds many grass fields from around 240th Street to 251st and Broadway. Take the 1 train to the last stop going uptown and you'll find yourself only a few blocks away from this park.  This park is extremely big so even if there's fields taken up, which there are usually during the weekend due to youth soccer teams playing here, you can still find space to play or practice. There are tons of fields and open spaces to work on your touch or simply have a kick around with friends. This is relaxing and spacious place to play soccer or even go for a run along the perimeter of the park. Best of all this park is free and public to all so you don't have to worry about getting kicked out. Overall, this park is a fun place to play at with friends and a nice place to just hang out and enjoy the open scenery too. 

  Baker Athletic Complex aka Bakersfield aka Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium located on 218th Street off Broadway is the home to Columbia University's Mens and Women's soccer teams. This field is located on the most northern neighborhood in Manhattan, right across from the Marble Hill Section of the Bronx.  You can take the A train to 207 and walk north up broadway till 218th street and take a left on Broadway. Or you can take the 1 train to 215th Street which is a bit closer and walk a few blocks north to 218th and then take a left on Broadway.  The field is most likely not available to the public during Columbia's season from late summer through Fall. It is also tough to use during the winter as they put up a bubble on this field so there can be indoor practice for the Columbia Sports teams. However, if you go during the Spring and parts of the summer it is likely you have a chance of practicing.  Don't expect there to be pickup though as this is considered a private

  This is the current field of FC Harlem, a soccer club based in West Harlem that serves the community in a positive way. They make football fun, accessible and easy to join for local residents, particularly kids from Harlem, the Bronx, and Washington Heights. They provide youth with caring adult mentors and quality structured programs to enhance players both on and off the field.  This club is different from the more typical model of travel soccer in the United States which operates as an overpriced “PAY TO PLAY” system that thrives for privileged white youth in suburban communities. However, in non affluent neighborhoods in the urban centers of America high level soccer clubs are virtually non-existant. FC Harlem on the other hand acknowledges the need of the resources they offer. For example, "Our youth need access to designated safe spaces to engage with caring mentors who can help them develop to their fullest potential" (FC Harlem.org)  Their impact has already been liv