Address: 557 W 23rd St, New York, NY 10011
Website: Chelsea Waterside Page
Hours Of Operation:
6 am to 11 pm, 7 days a week
There’s nothing quite like soccer in the Big Apple. That’s why we’ve partnered with multiple pickup leagues across New York City to bring you all more field options! These leagues host their matches year-round on dozens of unique pitches across NYC, and as part of this partnership, we are bringing Plei App games to their spaces in order to fill in on days that the leagues aren’t running.
That being said, these blogs will answer all the questions that you usually ask before you head out to play some ball, like…
Is it a 6v6, 7v7, 8v8 or 9v9 field? Artificial grass or natural? What are the exact measurements? Where should I park? What subway train do I take and where do I get off? Are there good food/drink options nearby? Are there any other cool things to do or see in the surrounding area?
Fear not: all these questions and more will be answered within each blog, so you can confidently suit up, head out and have fun playing some pickup footy, New York style. 🗽😎
Chelsea Waterside is a beautiful waterfront park just across the street from the Hudson River. Located in - of course, Chelsea - the park features a variety of amenities, including a large athletic field, a recreational space, a dog park and other attractions.
This vibrant space frequently hosts a variety of events and activities, including invigorating fitness classes, enchanting outdoor movie nights, and engaging community gatherings.
Whether you're in the mood for the beautiful game or simply want to enjoy the stunning riverfront views just across the street, Chelsea Waterside offers a perfect blend of recreation, relaxation and the beauty of the Hudson River.
Keep reading to learn more about this field space, and some important tips that you’ll want to keep in mind before you pull up. Click below to navigate to any particular section that you’re interested in! 👇
Let’s get into what you probably clicked on this blog for.
Chelsea Waterside offers a large, multi-purpose turf field - measuring 32 by 60 yards to be exact - surrounded by even more square feet of recently completed and refurbished amenities. The field is suited for 7v7 games, but it can be reconfigured to accommodate various other game sizes.
As you probably know by now, the field is primarily used for pickup soccer purposes, but it can also accommodate rugby, ultimate frisbee and other team sports. Along with the rest of the park, the turf grass was actually recently renovated, and now features a brand-new high-quality turf that will last for years to come.
All Plei App games that take place here are hosted by the NYC Soccer Collective, an adult league based in New York City that offers men's, open and coed divisions. They play at numerous locations all across the city; Chelsea Waterside is just one of many.
The Plei App first hosted a pickup game at Chelsea Waterside on December (TBA), 2023, and we continue to play here today.
For those arriving by car, your best option is to park at a parking garage located just a couple blocks northeast. We listed it below for your convenience.
Icon Parking (7 min walk)
If you’d rather not pay to park in a garage, then your only other option is to park on the street. We aren’t responsible for your vehicle if you get a ticket or if you get towed. 😅
The nearest subway station to the field is the 23rd Street Station, which can be found at the West 23rd Street and 8th Avenue intersection. We attached the link below.
23 St (Services: A, C, E)
For bus goers, here are the closest stops to Chelsea Waterside.
Chelsea Waterside isn’t that large of a park, so you shouldn’t have trouble looking for the entrance for the athletic field.
Regardless, we want to prepare for the worst. Here are the entrances you can take in order to access the turf field at this park.
Unfortunately, there aren’t any food spots in the immediate vicinity of Chelsea Waterside; the closest ones are just over a block away.
Here are three restaurants that you can quickly stop by for some takeout before heading home from balling out at the field here.
New York Burger Co. (Head down West 23rd Street from the east end of the park that borders 11th Avenue. It’ll be on the corner of 10th Avenue and West 23rd.) - Located on Washington Street, this café is the perfect spot to refuel after a bike ride or leisurely stroll along the highline. Take in the charm of their hand painted mural wall & one-of-a-kind furnishings as you sip on a coffee or tea, grab a sweet treat, or enjoy a meal with family or friends.
Empire Diner (Take either West 23rd Street and turn right onto 10th Avenue or take West 22nd Street and it’ll be immediately in front of you once you hit 10th.) - Classic art deco diner relaunched with upgraded spins on American dishes, coffee & cocktails.
Calle Dao Chelsea (Head east down West 23rd Street. It’s one of the first restaurants on your left as soon as you pass 10th Avenue.) - We try to focus on more affordable options when it comes to picking food joints that you can stop before heading home from a pickup game, but this is an exception. Calle Dao is actually an Asian-Cuban fusion restaurant (ever heard of that before?) served unique dishes combining the two cultures. They also offer craft cocktails, all served in roomy, relaxed surrounds with big potted palms.
Located at West 23rd Street and the West Side Highway, this park has undergone several transformations since its first portions were acquired by the City in 1907. Though its early history was connected to a working industrial waterfront, its current incarnation represents the reclamation of the Hudson River and the upland properties for recreational use.
In 1907, five years before the survivors of the Titanic disaster were brought to nearby Chelsea Piers, a parcel of land north and east of the piers was vested to the city’s Department of Docks, which oversaw waterfront commerce. In 1915, this parcel was transferred to Parks, and in 1923 this small park was named in memory of Thomas F. Smith (1863–1923).
In October 2000 an expanded and renovated park reopened east of the highway, with its new name Chelsea Waterside Park. After years of lobbying for more recreational space by local residents, 23rd street was demapped between 11th and 12th Avenues, and park improvements were implemented by the State Department of Transportation, as part of the reconstruction of the adjacent highway.
Chelsea Waterside Park is under the jurisdiction of the Hudson River Park Trust. Designed by landscape architect Thomas Balsley, the park includes a dog run at the south end, a multi-use recreational field in the northwest corner, a basketball court to the north, and a children’s play area in the northeast quadrant. This latter area is slated for a comfort station and playground, to be designed by Vollmer Associates and landscape architect Donna Walcavage respectively. The central portion of the park includes a pedestrian walkway flanked by new lawns for passive recreation and lush mixed herbaceous planting beds.
