Constituent Services & Community Programs
Recreation Specialist
$45,986 to $52,873 a year
Posted until October 20, 2026 · posted August 21, 2026
Requirements
Diploma + experience
Exam
Not stated
From ≈ $22.11 an hour · $1,769 every 2 weeks, before taxes (40-hour weeks).
NYC minimum wage is $17/hr. This beats it by $5.11/hr, with health insurance and a pension on top.
What you'd have made
$1,763 If you'd started this job 2 weeks ago, at this pay, before taxes.
An hour of this job pays for about 7.3 subway rides ($3 fare).
Price anything in hours of this job
Check yourself
What they actually ask for.
High school diploma plus experience
- 18 months of participation in an art, craft or other recreational pursuit as a teacher, performer, coach, official, contestant or demonstrator, including at least one year of experience in that art, craft or recreational pursuit to be performed on the job, as described below; or
- Experience or study in that art, craft or recreational pursuit to be performed on the job as described below, acquired in job training, internships, volunteer service, high school, college or other appropriate institution over at least a three-year period; or "3. A satisfactory equivalent combination of education and experience as described above.
Read the rest of the requirements
However, all candidates must have at least one year of experience or education in that art, craft or recreational pursuit to be performed on the job as described below.
Job assignments are limited to the following recreational specialties: woodworking , weight lifting, tennis, aquatics, soccer, fencing, golf, gymnastics, ham radio, horseback riding, hockey, figure skating, martial arts, music, nature study, art, photography, dramatics, dance-roller skating, small crafts, sewing, astronomy, auto mechanics, baton twirling, bridge, chess, modern dance, dog obedience, puppetry, boxing and storytelling."
Quoted word for word from the official posting. The label above is ours, read from this text; if they disagree, this text wins.
The work
What the job is.
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Weekends
“Able to work weekends and non-traditional hours.”
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Driver license
“Valid New York State driver license.”
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Fieldwork or outdoors
“The mission of Recreation is to enable all New Yorkers to lead physically active and intellectually stimulating lives through sports, fitness, outdoor adventure, technology, education and the arts.”
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Bilingual
“Bilingual.”
Read from the posting. Tap one to see the line it came from.
NYC Parks serves as the steward for over 30,000 acres of land, which includes 1,000 playgrounds, 36 recreation centers, 66 pools and 14 miles of beach.
Our primary responsibility is to build and maintain clean, safe and accessible parks, and to create cultural and educational programs for New Yorkers of all ages to enjoy.
Read the rest, from the posting
The mission of Recreation is to enable all New Yorkers to lead physically active and intellectually stimulating lives through sports, fitness, outdoor adventure, technology, education and the arts.
Recreation programs include specialized exercise classes, youth sports, senior activities, summer camps and free afterschool programs. Recreation programming occurs throughout the City in NYC Parks recreation centers, parks and playgrounds.
Major Responsibilities
- Under supervision, conduct dynamic and innovative workshops, sports and specialized recreational programs for the Recreation division.
- Develop and facilitate programming to engage New Yorkers in sports, fitness and outdoor adventures.
- Lead and coach youth programming, work mobile unit programs and other special events.
- Instruct participants in basic fitness skills, including proper fitness equipment use, basic safety precautions and the health benefits of regular exercise.
- Lead fitness classes, practice sessions and facilitate sports programs for New Yorkers of all ages.
- Maintain equipment and fitness areas daily, including keeping an inventory of necessary materials and supplies. Inspect public spaces and report evidence of unsafe or hazardous conditions.
- Establish program objectives, evaluate recreational programs and design cutting-edge curricula.
- Supervise, develop and implement afterschool, teen and summer camp curricula that meet all Department of Health (DOH) criteria.
- Promote NYC Parks Recreation Center memberships and assist in events and special projects.
- Collect and submit accurate data, forms and reports to meet internal deadlines.
- Work Location
TBD
How to Apply: Go to cityjobs.nyc.gov and search for Job ID# 794292. All applicants must apply via cityjobs.nyc.gov. The City is no longer using ESS to accept applications. *Current City Employees please include your ERN on your cover letter and resume.
NOTE: All resumes must be received no later than the last day of the posting period. References will be required upon request.
nyc.gov/parks
MOVEMENT IN THE FACE OF CIVIL SERVICE LISTS IS PROHIBITED UNDER CIVIL SERVICE LAW.
For information about applying for Civil Service Exams go to: Civil Service Exams - Department of Citywide Administrative Services (nyc.gov)
Skills they'd like
- Coursework in physiology, recreation or a sports related field.
- Experience recruiting, instructing and coaching sports, including girls’, women’s and non-traditional sports.
- Experience with fine arts, performing arts or decorative arts.
- Excellent communication, organizational and customer service skills.
- Proficiency in computer software including Microsoft 365.
- Valid New York State driver license.
- Able to work weekends and non-traditional hours.
- Bilingual.
Before you apply
The fine print.
Where you have to live
Residency in New York City, Nassau, Orange, Rockland, Suffolk, Putnam or Westchester counties required for employees with over two years of city service. New York City residency is required within 90 days of hire for all other candidates.
Sources
Straight from the city.
Updated every day from the city's job data (last city update September 21, 2026). You apply through the official posting.
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