Address: Hudson St, New York, NY 10013
Website: James J Walker Park Page
Hours Of Operation:
6 am to 10 pm, 7 days a week
Thereâs nothing quite like soccer in the Big Apple. Thatâs why weâve 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 arenât running.
That being said, these blogs will answer all the questions that you usually ask before you head out to play some ball, likeâŚ
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. đ˝đ
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Previously the site of a cemetery and now a vibrant hotspot offering something for everyone, this park has truly come a long way. Whether youâre looking to play some footy, step up to the plate for some baseball, try your hand at some bocce, pickleball or handball, or just take a nature walk, a good time is guaranteed here.
It may seem awkward at first knowing that youâre stepping foot on a former burial ground, we understand. Just try not to let it get to your head, because thereâs so much to enjoy here.
Keep reading to learn more about the field at James J. Walker Park and some important tips that youâll want to keep in mind before you pull up. Click below to navigate to any particular section that youâre interested in! đ
JJ Walker Park boasts many amenities, and one of those is a large turf field with lines for both baseball and soccer games.
Weâre obviously here to talk about the footy side of things, so letâs get into it. Known as the Raymond âRayâ Pagan Field, youâll be able to enjoy 7v7 games surrounded by plenty of green scenery. The vibes multiply during autumn when everything changes color, as seen in the photo above. Does it even get any better than playing the beautiful game surrounded by so many colorful trees?
The field area is equipped with a scoreboard as well as benches for player and spectator convenience.
The Plei App first hosted a pickup game at James J. Walker Park on August 10, 2023, and we continue to play here today.
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If youâre coming with a car, your best bet will be to find parallel parking in the streets that border James J Walker Park, as there is no dedicated parking lot.
For subway goers, youâre in luck. The nearest station is the Houston Street one, just one block southeast from the park. Look to take 1 or 2 service; once you arrive, just make your way up Varick Street and then make a left on Clarkson Street.
For those taking the bus, there are three stops in close proximity to the park, all accessible via M20 service:
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You can enter the turf field via any of the three streets that border it: Hudson Street, Clarkson Street or St Lukes Place.
Youâll find the gate entrance on Hudson Street at center field.
The St Lukes Place entrance can be found immediately to the right of the playground.
Finally, youâll find two gate openings on Clarkson Street: one to the left of the handball courts and the other a little further down to the left of a storage container inside.
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There definitely is! For starters, you can take a quick nature walk through the Community Garden of JJ Walker Park, located in between the Raymond Pagan Field and the handball courts.
If nature isnât your thing, perhaps art is? If you head to the Clarkson Street side of the park, youâll find beautiful large murals on the building across the street. The building covered by the colorful artwork is actually an alternative high school, and many smaller murals blanket the schoolâs walls in different areas.
Fun fact: the artwork depicting five different faces is officially the largest mural in all of New York City. It took 2 ½ years to complete.
One last thing to do in the area is checking out the Hudson Park Library, located at the point that St Lukes Place becomes Leroy Street. Aside from obviously being a place with an endless supply of books, you can also catch some interesting artwork inside.
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Youâre bound to get hungry after an hour or so of footy, we understand. Here are a few recommendations if youâre looking to grab something before or after you play at the JJ Walker Park field.
Shake Shack (Located on the corner of Clarkson Street and Varick Street, immediately southeast of the park.) - We try not to include chain restaurants in our recommendations, but its close proximity to the park means that Shake Shack West Village has found its way into this list. If youâve somehow never been or at least heard of them, they are a milkshake (obviously) and burger joint. They also sell hot dogs for some reason.
Taste of Greece (Located on Hudson Street in front of the murals. Just cross Clarkston Street from the park going south until you come across a blue food truck.) - Just your typical Greek cuisine in New York City, in the form of a food truck thatâs always parked in front of the murals of City-AS School on Hudson Street. Look forward to delicious kebabs, gyros, and seafood platters as well as savory salads.
Judy Zâs Sports Tavern & Kitchen (Across 7th Ave S immediately east from the park, just cross the road. Itâs on the corner of Carmine Street and 7th Ave S.) - Laid-back venue serving everything youâd normally find at any other sports pub, like burgers, tacos, wings, finger foods and of course draft beer and interesting cocktails. An easy spot to relax and unwind at after a tough pickup game across the street.
King Wok (Across the street from the Shake Shack mentioned above. Take Clarkson Street and turn onto Varick Street.) - Your typical Chinese takeout joint. They also do delivery, if thatâs something you prefer. In any case, this is a good, quick option if youâre looking to grab something to eat and head home after your pickup game.
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This 2-acre park was previously the site of St. Johnâs Cemetery from 1812 to 1895. It wasnât until the land was acquired by NYC Parks & Rec that it became St. Johnâs Park. The name was then changed to Hudson Park in 1896 before finally becoming James J. Walker Park in 1947, a tribute to the former mayor of New York City.
Creepy fact: when the cemetery became a park, most of those buried were not removed. Over 10,000 burials took place back then.
Over the course of this parkâs 128-year lifetime, it has seen vast improvements and renovations to continue serving the needs of locals. Today, the park boasts an athletic field used for baseball & soccer, bocce courts, playgrounds, bathrooms, handball & pickleball courts, and Wi-Fi hotspots. Thereâs also a memorial dedicated to a pair of firefighters that passed away.
