The borough of Manhattan is a concrete jungle which makes finding a place to play soccer difficult. There are parks and fields within the city where games are played, but at the present time, one of the best spots has is at Pier 40 along the Hudson River.
Looking at Pier 40 from the outside, you wouldn’t suspect that this was the home to numerous leagues and clubs throughout the city. That’s because Pier 40 was built in 1962 for the Holland America Cruise Line. The complex also includes a large public parking lot which is what you see when looking at the facility from street level.
Inside Pier 40 it’s a different story. The rooftop and lower courtyard areas are covered with artificial turf and are used for both youth and adult soccer leagues. It’s estimated that over 200,000 people use the fields each year. The area is also used for recreational summer camps and year round instructional programs.
One league that calls Pier 40 Home is Downtown United Soccer Club. They recently announced the kick off to their new season with a tribute to Pier 40:
Pier 40 does have its problems, however. The building is an eyesore and is falling apart in some areas. For these reasons Pier 40 For All has been created by members of the community and those that use the fields at Pier 40. It’s mission states:
Pier 40 For All is a coalition for neighbors and community groups who are working together to make sure that as Hudson River Park is finished, Pier 40 is transformed into a beautiful, environmentally conscious space that fits the needs of our local community, expands and improves our sports fields, and supports the park with appropriately scaled commercial uses.
We’ll follow any developments on the future of soccer at Pier 40.
