When you think of recreational sports activities, the words “out of town” usually come to mind before “downtown.”
But at the bottom tip of our urban jungle, you can kayak, golf, rollerblade, play tennis, basketball and baseball, and even swing on a trapeze – seemingly right up into the Manhattan cityscape.
Three parks lie along the water’s edge: Battery Park, Hudson River Park and East River Park. They are all more or less connected, so whether you’re biking, blading or walking, you can start on the west side at East Houston Street, following the water’s edge and the majestic skylines all the way around to West Houston.
Sitting atop 32 acres of landfill, Battery Park features community ballfields, basketball and handball courts, playgrounds, waterfront esplanades, meandering pathways with foliage, lawns for sunbathing, the North Cove Yacht Harbor, and ferries to the Statue of Liberty, Staten Island, Ellis Island and New Jersey.
“I love blading down the waterfront path just past the World Financial Center Plaza,” says a buff Ingrid Nielson. “You can forget you’re in a big city. But it’s a serious workout too. You have to avoid all the slow-walking tourists, but that’s why I like it. It’s challenging.”
As a plus, the WFC plaza, as well as the Robert F. Wagner Park, hosts summer concerts – from classical and rock music to dance and performance art.
The Battery City Parks Conservancy offers a variety of classes and events. Tonight, you can join other wage slaves for Volleyball After Work. All levels are welcome.
Other organized events include women’s basketball, tai chi, dance, bike repair, bird watching, chess and backgammon, walking tours and tons of kids events. On select Saturdays throughout the summer, join experienced anglers for Go Fish, a morning of free catch and release fishing, while learning about Manhattan’s marine life.
The BCPC also offers inline skating workshops and mini-lessons at the Esplanade Plaza.
The Hudson River Park starts at Battery Park ending up in midtown near 59th Street. But, other than Chelsea Piers, the section that lies in Lower Manhattan includes some of the best fun in town.
Beginning at Harrison Street, the HRR has an elegant esplanade with views of New Jersey and manicured lawns for picnics or sunbathing, leading to a well-traveled two-lane biking path.
This is the start of the Hudson River Valley Greenway Trail, which will eventually lead all the way north past Albany. Between West Thames and Albany streets, you’ll find a skate park, dog run, playground and community gardens.
Pier 25, at North Moore Street, features a beach with volleyball nets, a miniature golf course and the Yankee Ferry.
But one of the coolest HRR attractions is Trapeze School New York, located just south of Canal street between Piers 26 and 34 -the only NYC no-fly zone you can get to for $55-$65.
Realize your childhood circus fantasies, and safely and spectacularly fly through the air, with blurred visions of skyscrapers, New Jersey and the Hudson.
The limber expert instructors offer classes for ages 6 and up (the oldest to date is age 70.)
“The Trapeze School filled a necessity downtown for something life-affirming, unusual and magical,” says Jonathon Conant, 42, the owner and director.
For those who’d rather be in the water, head to the Downtown Boathouse on Pier 26, where you can kayak for free, and hobnob with the yacht owners who dock there.
On the East Side, just past the Fulton Fish Market and the Brooklyn Bridge, the East River Park begins with a scenic, yet sometimes rough in patches, walk and bikeway that starts at Jackson St and ends at 14th Street, accessible from the west by four FDR overpasses.
East River Park is the place go for weekend fun – it’s particularly popular with the barbecue set.
There are 12 tennis courts that are free and open to the public just past the Williamsburg Bridge. It’s no Forrest Hills, but the courts are in fairly good shape and it’s not usually hard to snag a space.
Many athletic leagues gather here for the softball fields, football field and basketball courts. Further north near E. 6th Street there’s a 400m running track with soccer fields.
One of the most popular East River Park activities is fishing for bluefish and stripped bass -though for health reasons you’re not supposed to eat your catch.
BLOCK FACT: Author Jack London once lived as a hobo in City Hall Park, and Washington Irving, the great American writer, was born in 1783 at 131 William Street.