Mike Silverman is the Director of Special Projects and Strategic Advisor for CityParks Play, a division of City Parks Foundation (CPF), which provides free sports instruction that keeps more than 10,000 children ages 6-17 and more than 1,000 older adults healthy and active in New York City’s parks while learning sports they can play for life. In 2025, Mike stepped down as Director of Sports after more than three decades leading the program’s growth and helping transform CityParks Play into one of the nation’s largest free municipal youth sports initiatives.
As Director of Sports, Mike expanded CityParks Play beyond its signature tennis program to create free, park-based opportunities that introduced thousands of New York City children to new sports. Beginning with golf, he recognized growing interest in the game and, with support from NYC Parks and the PGA, developed an unconventional program that transformed neighborhood baseball fields into temporary driving ranges. Thinking “out of the tee box” proved successful, eventually leading to the creation of three junior golf centers that now serve more than 3,000 young golfers annually, including one at the Pitch and Putt in Flushing Meadows Park. Some participants have gone on to win local and national junior golf championships.
Mike also oversaw the launch and expansion of soccer, track and field, senior fitness, and sports internship programs, creating opportunities for young people to stay active, develop leadership skills, and gain meaningful work experience. Today, approximately 40 percent of CityParks Play’s seasonal coaches are former participants, with many building careers in coaching and sports administration. He also partnered with other nonprofits to establish international exchange opportunities, giving dedicated students the chance to attend Wimbledon and the French Open.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mike helped ensure City Parks Foundation remained one of the few local organizations able to safely continue free youth sports programming. Since then, participation has continued to grow as families increasingly recognize the importance of outdoor recreation and physical activity. In partnership with Nike, he also helped launch Girls Forward, a program led by female coaches that encourages teenage girls to play and stay in sports.
In his current role as Director of Special Projects and Strategic Advisor, Mike focuses on fundraising, strategic partnerships, special events, and new initiatives, including the development of a fourth Junior Golf Center at Clearview Golf Course in Queens.
Born and raised in Briarwood, Mike Silverman has been bringing New Yorkers together through sports since he was a child. Growing up, he played virtually every sport, but being the “shortest kid on the block” meant he was not always picked for teams. To help ensure he was included, Mike began organizing neighborhood pickup games and quickly became the go-to person for bringing friends together for weekend competition.
Mike attended Hillcrest High School before earning a degree in Political Science with a minor in Physical Education from Queens College. Although he originally planned to attend law school, a summer job teaching tennis for NYC Parks changed the course of his career. After accepting a full-time position, he went on to direct one of the country’s largest free youth tennis programs, providing lessons to more than 6,000 children in parks throughout the five boroughs. During his years with NYC Parks, Mike expanded the program through innovative fundraising, created a junior tournament circuit that made competitive tennis more accessible and affordable for city kids, and launched a partnership with Reebok.
When City Parks Foundation was established, Mike was recruited to continue leading the program under the nonprofit’s banner. Renamed CityParks Tennis, the program has continued to flourish with the support of partners including the USTA, BNP Paribas, Lacoste, and tennis legend Billie Jean King, who learned the game in a public park. With King’s support in 1998, Mike helped establish the annual CityParks Tennis Benefit during the US Open, which has since raised millions of dollars to support free tennis instruction CityParks Tennis He also organized clinics in parks and on city streets featuring tennis greats including Venus and Serena Williams, Rod Laver, and Andre Agassi, while expanding year-round instruction into indoor facilities across the city.
Over more than four decades in public service and nonprofit leadership, Mike has viewed New York City’s parks as a canvas for creating opportunities that keep children active, healthy, and connected to their communities. His career has been defined by finding creative ways to make sports more accessible and ensuring that every child, regardless of background, has the opportunity to play.
QG: Other than the amazing diversity, what do/did you love most about living in Queens (or Queens in general)?
MS: Amazing parks with lots to do! (e.g., Astoria, Flushing Meadows, Forest)
QG: How has Queens changed over the years?
MS: Long Island City obviously looks a lot different than it did even five years ago! The train to the plane was a major and needed improvement.
QG: How does Queens inspire you? What are some of your favorite places to be inspired in Queens?
MS: The US Open inspires me every year– not only the matches but seeing so many people having a great time at the end of the summer. Also, jogging and biking along the Bayside waterfront.
QG: How important is personal connection and communication (networking) in your industry?
MS: We supervise 160 coaches who work all over the city, so communication is very important at all levels to maintain program quality, consistency, and safety.
QG: What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
MS: From my Dad: “Try to find a job that you love and is meaningful.” I’m one of the lucky ones. I haven’t looked at the clock in 45 years.
QG: What is something you wish you knew a decade or two ago?
MS: How to play golf well! I got a late start in my 40s. I envy the juniors in our golf program who learned at age six or seven.
QG: Who are some of your favorite artists, writers, performers, entrepreneurs, and other creatives with a Queens connection?
MS: Paul Simon, Jerry Seinfeld, Fran Drescher (she graduated Hillcrest HS same year as me).
QG: What are your favorite restaurants, coffee shops, theaters, galleries, communities, and venues in Queens?
MS: Dani’s House of Pizza in Kew Gardens, Cabana in Forest Hills, Queens Museum.
The Local-Express interview series was originated on July 3, 2013 by Nicollette Barsamian.