Address: East 42nd Street and, 1st Ave., New York, NY 10016
Website: Robert Moses Playground Page
Hours Of Operation:
7 am to 6 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. 🗽😎
The Robert Moses Playground is a 1.3-acre park area that not only has a soccer field (known as the Athletic Field), but if you make your way to the other side of the block, you’ll find a set of basketball courts as well. Restrooms are available on this side for convenience.
Keep reading to learn more about this field, 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! 👇
The Athletic Field at the Robert Moses Playground is an artificial 8v8 turf located right beside the famous United Nations Headquarters. You’ll find this gated field space in front of the 2nd Queens Midtown Tunnel Ventilation Shaft, bordering First Avenue (United Nations Plaza), East 42nd Street and East 41st Street.
Being conveniently placed next to the HQ of the international organization, you’ll be able to play exciting pickup games with breathtaking views of the 39-story, 505 ft tall Secretariat Building, as well as the surrounding architecture.
Various local leagues play here year-round, and pickup games are also prominent.
The park is named after the celebrated city planner who had a huge impact on New York City’s urban development in the mid-1950s.
The Plei App first hosted a pickup game at Robert Moses Playground on May 11, 2023, and we continue to play here today.
If you’re coming by car, your best bet will probably be to park along East 41st Street. Besides that, you could try your luck at a nearby parking garage on East 40th Street and walk about 3 minutes to the field.
For those arriving by subway, you’ll want to get off at the Grand Central/42nd Street station after taking services 4, 5, 6, 7 or S. Once you arrive, it’s about a 10 minute walk down East 42nd Street to the park, or an 8-minute bike if you take a Citi Bike from the nearest dock at East 43 St & Madison Ave.
If you’d rather take the bus instead of walking or biking, there are numerous bus stops in and around Grand Central Terminal. Be sure to hop on the M42 service that will take you directly to the field at Robert Moses Playground.
You’ll find the main entrance at the center of the field on First Avenue. An alternate entrance (which may not be unlocked) is available on the corner of First Avenue and East 41st Street.
With such an important landmark literally right beside the field, that may be enough sightseeing on its own.
If you like staring at important, tall buildings in Manhattan, then you’ll be satisfied by the UN Headquarters in your down time before or after your pickup game. You can get the best views by walking along East 42nd Street, where you’ll also pass by a dog run within Robert Moses Playground.
Although this would naturally require more planning, you can also book in-person tours at the United Nations HQ if that’s your kind of thing.
Make your way all the way around the park and you can also check out the basketball courts at the playground. Now face FDR Drive and you can catch a decent view of East River and beyond that, Long Island City across the water.
Another neat historic landmark can be found directly in front of the HQ; the Isaiah Wall located within Ralph Bunche Park. Inside the park, you’ll find a memorial dedicated to the memory of the political scientist and Nobel Peace Prize winner, known as the Peace Form One Sculpture. Fun fact about this park: it’s a popular site for demonstrations and rallies for peace and other international issues because of its close proximity to the UN HQ and Bunche’s career as a peacemaker.
There’s also a bit of green scenery in this area, if you’re a nature person.
You’re bound to get hungry after an hour or so of footy, we understand. Here are a few recommendations if you’re looking to grab something before or after you play at Robert Moses Playground.
Tudor City Cafe (Located just a 5 minute walk from the park; cross First Avenue/UN Plaza via East 42nd Street and make your way down the sidewalk on the right until you come across a staircase not long after you pass under a bridge. This will take you up to Tudor City Place. From here just make your way south, crossing East 41st Street, until you get to the Cafe.) - Your closest option to the park if you’re just looking to quickly grab something to snack or sip on. If you want something freshly made, look forward to sandwiches, salads, signature dishes, bagels, among other options. Tudor City Cafe doubles as a pharmacy/mini-market, so you’ll be able to grab any household necessities that you may need on the way out.
Gristedes (Located on the corner of 2nd Avenue and East 40th Street. Make your way south from the park before crossing First Avenue via East 40th; head down the block until you hit 2nd Avenue. It’s a 5-minute walk.) - Just your average supermarket, but they also sell deli items and baked goods, making it ideal for those looking to grab and go. They’ve also got a variety of healthy options like chickpea, macaroni and black bean & corn salads if that sounds like your kind of thing.
Marche Madison (Located just a 5-minute walk south from the park; on ground level of the Manhattan Place condo building on the corner of First Avenue and East 37th Street.) - This place is a deli, grocery store, juice bar, coffee shop and Korean eatery all at once. Look forward to gourmet options, acai bowls, freshly made sandwiches and gyros, all-day breakfast; whatever you need to re-energize following a tough pickup game.
Situated just south of the United Nations Headquarters, this full-block site was acquired by the city in 1937 as part of the Queens-Midtown Tunnel construction. The playground, which was completed in 1941, shares the block with the tunnel’s ventilation tower. The site was named for famed city planner Robert Moses by the City Council in 1982.
On one side of the ventilation tower, you’ll find an athletic field used for soccer, baseball/softball and other recreational purposes. On the other side, you’ll find basketball courts with neat views of Long Island City across the water. You can also find a dog run along East 42nd Street.
Thanks for reading Pitchside by Plei, a blog series highlighting the best field spaces in your city! ⚽
If you want to get familiar with other unique soccer fields from the Lower East Side all the way up to Washington Heights and beyond, don’t hesitate to click the following links below! 👇
