How permits work
You do not need a permit to play. You need one to reserve.
Anyone can use an NYC Parks field when no one holds a permit for it. A permit gives a group the field for a set time, and they can ask anyone else to leave. Leagues and clubs apply months ahead, in fixed windows, for each of the 3 seasons.
Dates to watch
Each season has 3 application windows. Renewals come first, for groups that held the same slot last year. New applications come next, and requests for the same slot compete. Whatever is left is then given out first come, first served.
This means most prime evening and weekend slots are taken by returning groups before new applicants can apply.
The year at a glance
Winter runs across the new year. Application windows for a season open 2 to 6 months before it starts.
What “available” means
On the NYC Parks map, and on this site, a free field is one with no permit at that time. You can play there informally. You cannot reserve it on the day: permits for the current season need at least 7 days' notice.
Fields overlap
Many full pitches can also be split into 2 or more smaller fields. A permit on the full pitch blocks every part of it. A permit on one part blocks the full pitch, even if the other part is empty. We show these as blocked by an overlapping field.
Soccer comes first in fall and winter
On fields built for more than one sport, NYC Parks gives priority to rectangular-field sports such as soccer, football and lacrosse from September to March. From April to August, baseball, softball and cricket come first. Once a season starts, this rule stops and requests are handled in the order they arrive.
Youth and adult permits
A youth permit is for a group where every player is 17 or under. School sports programmes count as youth, whatever the players' ages. Adult permits cover everyone else, including company teams and pay-to-play leagues.
Groups booking over 50 hours need insurance
A group with more than 50 permitted hours in a season must hold liability insurance of $1 million per incident and $2 million in total, naming the City of New York. NYC Parks will not accept more requests from that group until the insurance is approved.
School grounds are separate
NYC Parks does not permit fields on Department of Education property. Schools run their own process, called Extended Use of School Buildings.
What a permit costs
Fees are per hour. The NYC Parks table lists fees for adult groups and for-profit youth groups. It does not list a fee for non-profit youth groups.
| Field | Adult | Youth, for-profit |
|---|---|---|
| Synthetic turf, large or full field | $41 | $15 |
| Synthetic turf, multipurpose | $28 | $10 |
| Natural grass | $24 | $10 |
| Hard surface | $20 | $5 |
| Floodlights, added to the field fee | $15 | $5 |
What the permit data shows
Youth groups hold most of the time
In Manhattan, youth clubs and schools hold most of the permitted hours on soccer fields. Adult leagues such as NYC Footy hold far fewer. See the live breakdown on the map.
Closures show up as permits
When a field is closed for works, NYC Parks records it as a construction permit in an individual's name. We show these as closed for works, not as someone playing.
Pending requests
Some slots have a request that NYC Parks has not issued yet. NYC Parks shows these slots as unavailable, so we do too. We show them in grey, apart from issued permits, and leave them out of the hours each group holds.
If a permitted group does not turn up
If you think a permit is regularly unused, report it to 311. Choose Obstructing Public Use, then Court/Field/Rink.
To apply
Groups apply through the NYC Parks field and court requests system. NYC Parks may ask for rosters, league schedules and other documents. New organisations need approval first, which can take up to 2 weeks.
Source: NYC Parks, Requesting a Field, Court, and Athletic Tournament Permit. Check that page before you apply, as NYC Parks can change dates and fees.