Address: 394 Water St, New York, NY 10002
Website: Tanahey 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. 🗽😎
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! 👇
This hidden gem of a field is located in the Martin F. Tanahey Park, nestled in between the playground and the basketball courts.
This caged, artificial turf field is best suited for 7v7 games, but 6v6 and 5v5 games can also be played with no problems.
Benches are installed inside of the cages on the north sideline, closest to Cherry Street, convenient for both players and spectators.
Look forward to playing with views of the surrounding city skyline, a common theme at most fields and playgrounds across Manhattan. Make sure you don’t miss out on these city vibes; open the Plei App and sign up for an action-packed 7v7 game here!
The Plei App first hosted a pickup game at the Tanahey Field on July 16, 2023, and we continue to play here weekly.
Parking spots are plentiful and surround the entirety of Tanahey Park. You can find parallel spots all along Water Street, Cherry Street, Market Slip and Catherine Slip, and diagonal spots facing the park exclusively on Market Slip.
If you’re taking the subway, you’ll want to take F service all the way to the East Broadway station. From here, feel free to walk (10 min) or bike (3 min) a few blocks southwest.
Taking bus service from here is kind of pointless, but if you’re willing, the closest stop to the park is on Madison St/Market St, which requires M15 or M22 service.
If you’re picking up a Citi Bike fresh out the subway, grab one on Canal St & Rutgers St. The nearest dock station to the park is located on Market Street & Cherry Street.
You’ll enter the field at Tanahey via Cherry Street. Once you make your way around, you’ll see the open gate at the very end, right before the playground.
There’s also a gate on the other side on Water Street, but it’s usually locked, so don’t bother (unless you want to prove us wrong).
If you’re looking to get the full experience while you’re in this area, we’ll help you out! First off, you can always check out the full length of the park; check out the pair of basketball courts east of the soccer fields, which are painted different shades of grey. On the west end of the park is the playground.
If you’re a scenic type of person, then you’re in luck. The park is literally in between the famous Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, and it’s not a far walk to either one. Take your pick below.
Finally, we have something more out of the ordinary. Stop by Happy Medium, an art cafe that is more than a place to grab a cup of coffee. It’s basically a full-fledged art studio, and they offer workshops, classes, and do-it-yourself programs.
Their main event is the aforementioned art cafe, which as described on their website, is “Just like a restaurant but you order art experiences instead of food.”
We understand this probably isn’t an experience for everyone, but we like to highlight unique spots regardless. So, if you happen to be as passionate for art, sculpture and coffee as you are for the beautiful game, then look no further.
Luckily, there are a number of food and drink options near the Tanahey Playground. Here are just a few that we recommend.
Food King (Just a 2-minute walk northeast from the park, located on the corner of Market Street and Monroe Street) - Just your classic Chinese takeout in a corner storefront setting. Look forward to lunch specials and combination platters featuring all your favorites.
New Way Deli & Grocery (Right across the street from the northwest corner of the park, just cross Cherry Street) - The closest of our picks to Tanahey Park. You can grab yourself all your deli favorites, like sandwiches & burgers, while also enjoying a coffee or pastry on the side. Feel free to grab whatever other groceries you may need.
The House of Machines (A few doors down from Food King; just a 3-minute walk from the park) - One of three worldwide locations, the other two being in Cape Town, South Africa and Chengdu, China. This place is best described as an escape from everyday life, a place where you can stay a while, hang out with friends and make new ones, all while enjoying good music to your choice of a coffee, beer or cocktail. Check out their website for a better idea of what they’re about. The place is currently closed until Sept. 20 for construction catchups, though.
The playground was named after Martin F. Tanahey (1874-1930), who was a local civic and political leader. He was born and raised in the Lower East Side, holding various public offices for over 22 years.
The park, which opened on October 11, 1952, consists of two (2) basketball courts, a playground, one (1) 7v7 soccer field, a spray shower, benches & picnic tables, and open space areas on both ends.
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! 👇
