NYC Parks

NYC Parks runs a free afterschool program for kids ages 6–13 at recreation centers in all five boroughs. The program operates on school days, typically Monday–Friday from 3:00–6:00 p.m., which is that critical window when kids are out of school but many parents are still at work. It’s designed as a safe, structured environment where children get a mix of academic support and active play.

Programming is built around monthly themes and includes sports and fitness, arts and culture, and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics). Kids get homework help and can use computer resource centers to build literacy and tech skills, and they’re encouraged to try new activities—everything from team sports and swimming to creative arts projects. The city emphasizes that Parks Afterschool programs are meant to complement what children are learning in school and strengthen their sense of belonging in their communities. Registration generally runs from September through June; parents can call 311 or contact their nearest recreation center to find and sign up for a local program.

NYC Parks’ Summer Day Camp is a low-cost, full-day camp option for children ages 6–13 across the city. The program typically runs for 7 weeks in July and August, Monday–Friday from 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., with an extended day option from 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. at many sites.Campers spend their days in sports, fitness, and outdoor adventures, plus arts & crafts, STEAM activities, nature exploration, water games, and field trips, depending on the specific site. The city describes it as an “exciting chance” for kids to have a fun-filled summer while staying active and engaged. Families don’t sign up on a first-come, first-served basis; instead, spots are assigned through a lottery system, with a registration window in early spring each year. Parents submit an application online or in person during the lottery period and are notified if their child is selected, with a waitlist in place at many locations.

For many NYC families, the combination of free afterschool during the school year and low-cost, full-day summer camp through NYC Parks offers a reliable, structured way to keep kids safe, active, and learning—without the price tag of private camps.

After School Care

‍September - June

‍Summer Camps‍

July - August

Located across all five boroughs at various recreation centers. Below are on-site registration locations staffed by primary contacts for the programs.

‍Bronx Location‍

‍Williamsbridge Oval

‍3225 Reservoir Oval E

Bronx, NY 10467

‍Manhattan Location

‍‍Alfred E. Smith Recreation Center

‍80 Catherine Street

New York, NY 10038

‍Queens Locations‍

‍Al Oerter Recreation Center

‍131-40 Fowler Avenue

Flushing, New York 11355

‍A.R.R.O.W. Field House

‍35-30 35th Street

Astoria, New York 11106

‍Sorrentino Recreation Center

‍18-48 Cornaga Avenue

Far Rockaway, New York 11691

‍Staten Island Location‍

‍Walker Park Field House

‍50 Bard Avenue

Staten Island, NY, 10310

After School Care
Free for residents ages 6 -13.

‍Summer Camps‍

• Regular Day Camp Cost (9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday): $500 per child for seven weeks
• Extended Day Camp Cost (8 a.m. - 6 p.m., Monday - Friday): $575 per child for seven weeks

After School Care
Complete the application linked here and submit it to the closest NYCDPR location listed above. You will also need a copy of your child's birth certificate, this completed medical form, and this completed virtual program waiver.

‍Summer Camps
Subscribe to their newsletter to be notified when the application lottery opens (spring).

Bronx Location
Jeslyn Galarza: (718) 430-1847, Jeslyn.Galarza@parks.nyc.gov

‍Brooklyn Location
Rebecca Williamson: (718) 965-8942

Alyssa Vargas: (718) 965-8942, Alyssa.Vargas@parks.nyc.gov

‍Manhattan Location
Amanda Perez, (212) 408-0243, Amanda.Perez@parks.nyc.gov

Jasmine Campbell: (212) 408-0243, Jasmine.Campbell@parks.nyc.gov.

‍Queens Locations
Kiegan-Henry Albert: (718) 393-7370, Kiegan.Albert@parks.nyc.gov

‍Staten Island Location
Dana Vitolo: (718) 816-8103, Dana.Vitolo@parks.nyc.gov

Michael Messing: (718) 816-8103, Michael.Messing@parks.nyc.gov

What Parents Like

• NYC Parks Afterschool is repeatedly described as more than just a place to “hold” kids. The city says the program is designed to “enhance communities and enrich the lives of children” by providing safe, supportive, and structured environments from 3–6 p.m., when kids most need supervision. Growing Up NYC (the city’s own parent-facing guide) outlines that the Parks Afterschool Program provides academic support and physical activity in a safe, structured environment, with homework help, fitness, and STEAM activities that complement school-day learning, with trained staff running sports, arts, and enrichment. (1, 2, 3)
• The NYC Parks Experience Summer Day Camp is widely praised in guides as one of the most affordable full-day options in the city. For working families and parents staring at five-figure price tags elsewhere, that price point is a huge draw. (4)
• Reviews emphasize that the Summer Day Camp gives ages 6–13 a variety of activities: sports, fitness, outdoor play, arts & crafts, STEAM projects, and trips that explore NYC’s cultural and educational offerings. A roundup of NYC camps describes the program as a “traditional summer camp experience with a focus on outdoor activities, sports, and nature exploration” with locations throughout the five boroughs—highlighting that it feels like a classic camp, not a test-prep program. (5, 6)

‍What Parents Think Could be Improved‍

• Because the summer camp is so affordable, demand is extremely high. In Facebook group snippets and parent discussions (e.g., parents asking “Did anyone get accepted to NYC Parks summer camp or Summer Rising?”), families share frustration that their kids weren’t selected, even when they applied as soon as the lottery opened. In other words: the biggest complaint isn’t the camp quality—it’s not being able to get a spot. (7, 7.5)

‍Our Take

‍NYC Parks Afterschool and Experience Summer Day Camp are widely described by city and parent guides as safe, structured programs that complement school-day learning, offering a mix of academic support, physical activity, arts, and STEAM. They're remarkably affordable or free, especially compared to private afterschool and summer options. The main parent pain point is access, not quality: getting a spot in summer camp via the lottery can be competitive, and families can’t easily “shop around” with detailed site reviews the way they might with private camps.If you can get in, NYC Parks afterschool and summer camps are one of the most budget-friendly ways** to give your kids a safe, active, and structured experience—especially important when you’re trying to cover long hours without blowing up your summer budget.