Washington Square Park

Interested in learning to play pétanque? Stop by the Washington Square Park pétanque courts for free lessons and casual play every Monday and Wednesday. Members of La Boule New Yorkaise (one of the oldest pétanque clubs in the U.S.) have been playing in Washington Square Park since the 1970s, and will be staffing the courts with expert instructors who are eager to share pétanque with you.

Pétanque is an outdoor bowling game, similar to bocce, that was developed in the south of France early in the 20th century. It’s a game accessible to varying physical abilities and ages, can be played on more or less any patch of dirt, and is extremely easy to learn. Despite that simplicity, it is a technically and strategically stimulating game that is easy to fall in love with.