New York City parents will soon have an opportunity to enjoy a few child-free hours at no cost under a new pilot initiative unveiled by Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The city will provide free babysitting services for hundreds of families during a special four-hour event next month.

The new program, called “Parents’ Night Out,” is scheduled for Aug. 16 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will offer complimentary child care for as many as 500 children at recreation centers throughout the five boroughs.

Enrollment begins at 8 a.m. Monday and will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis until all available spots are filled.

Announcing the initiative, Mamdani said, “Every parent knows that a few hours to yourself can feel like a luxury. It shouldn’t be. That’s why we’re launching New York City’s first-ever Parents’ Night Out, so that parents can get a little time on their own to catch a movie, run errands or go on a date without worrying about who will take care of the kids – or how much it will cost.”

The program is available to families with children between the ages of 6 and 13. Participants will be supervised by staff at designated city recreation centers while parents take advantage of several hours on their own.

City officials said the initiative is intended to provide parents and caregivers with a much-needed break while offering children a safe environment with organized activities.

The Aug. 16 event will serve as a test run for the new program, with capacity capped at 500 children spread among participating recreation centers across New York City.

Officials are encouraging families to sign up promptly once registration opens, noting that the limited number of openings is expected to be claimed quickly.

The participating recreation centers are:

Brooklyn:
Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center
3105 Farragut Place, Brooklyn, NY 11210

Manhattan:
Highbridge Recreation Center
2301 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10033

Queens:
Al Oerter Recreation Center
131-40 Fowler Avenue, Flushing, NY 11355

Bronx:
Kwame Ture Recreation Center
1527 Jesup Avenue, Bronx, NY 10452

Staten Island:
Greenbelt Recreation Center
501 Brielle Avenue (across from Sea View Hospital)