Play soccer at Brooklyn Bridge Park

The Brooklyn Bridge Park is 85 acres, built along the banks of the East River in Dumbo and connected to the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway. The BBP soccer fields are located on Pier 5, a slice of soccer heaven that officially opened in late 2012. Other than the amazingly spacious and well-kept fields, you'll find picnic tables, grills, and even tetherball courts.

Before becoming a huge park, BBP was a ferry landing. That changed in 1924 following the construction of the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges. The Brooklyn Bridge Park Coalition (formerly Friends of Fulton Ferry Landing) fought for a park to be created in the space occupied by Piers 1-6 on the shoreline. The coalition is today known as the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy. Without their intervention, it's likely that there would be no park or soccer field to speak of at this location and instead, luxury rentals.

Pier 5 has a marina with a community boating programs that include kayaking, fishing and sailing options.

While you cut across the field, try to keep your focus on the soccer ball and not on the unrivaled view of downtown Manhattan.