Sport and spa

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Tennisport

Photo: Ben Goldstein

1 City View Racquet Club
Opening its doors this August, this membership-based tennis facility will have seven Har-Tru courts, four squash courts, state-of-the-art fitness facilities and a spa (offering a variety of massage techniques to help you work out that tennis elbow). 43-26 32nd Pl between Queens Blvd and Skillman Ave (718-698-3664, cityviewracquet.com). Call or check website for membership information.

2 Emerald Spa
This full-service spa boasts a steam room, Jacuzzi and a swimming pool. After a full day of relaxing treatments including reflexology, massage, facials and body scrubs, you can continue the self-indulgence with dinner right in the spa. 38-15 Northern Blvd at 38th St (718-433-1224, emeraldspa.net). Daily 11am–11pm. Admission $25; food and services cost extra.

3 Gantry Plaza State Park
Once an unsavory place to avoid, the 2.5-acre riverside park with stunning Manhattan views is now one of the LIC’s jewels. Facilities include basketball courts, playgrounds, handball courts, manicured emerald lawns and a fishing pier with its own cleaning table. Summertime finds the piers lined with the suntanning crowd, and the basketball and handball courts along 48th Avenue teem with shirtless hotties. 50-50 2nd St at 51st St (718-786-6385).

4 LIC Community Boathouse
The East River isn’t just something to gaze at from all those new condos lining the water’s edge; the boathouse offers free boat tours, walk-up canoe and kayak rides in protected coves, and a variety of educational and recreational paddling programs. Their curriculum aims to raise awareness about New York City’s aquatic ecology. 4-40 44th Dr at Anable Cove (718-228-9214, licboathouse.org). Programming and tours weather dependant.

5 Long Island City YMCA
The Y offers a variety of programs and services for kids, teens and adults, including Gymnastics 101, teen swim classes and tai chi. Private and semiprivate fitness training is available. It’s got a clean and well-maintained weight room, an indoor lap pool, an indoor basketball court, an aerobics studio and fitness facilities. Village People be damned—the locker rooms aren’t that cruisy. 32-23 Queens Blvd at 32nd Pl (718-392-7932, ymcanyc.org). Mon–Fri 5am–11pm; Sat 6am–9pm; Sun 8am–8pm.

6 NYC Paintball
Feeling stressed-out? Grab a big paint gun and blast your opponents with angry red and green liquid at this paintball facility, which includes two large indoor fields, an arcade, a café and everything you need for a day of simulated violent fun. 47-11 Van Dam St at 47th Ave (888-722-5569, newyorkcitypaintball.com). Prices and hours vary.

7 Queensbridge Park
Named for—and in the shadow of—nearby Queensboro Bridge, this 20-acre park across from the Queensbridge Houses has baseball fields (with floodlights); a soccer-football combination field; basketball and volleyball and courts; a playground with swings and jungle gyms; a spray shower; a comfort station; picnic areas; quaint flower beds; and welcome shade trees. Boisterous family barbecues let you know that it’s summer in the city. Vernon Blvd at the East River.

8 Tennisport
Open since 1974, New York City’s largest semiprivate tennis facility, Tennisport, offers 16 indoor red clay courts and eight outdoor Har-Tru courts, as well lessons, massage, a pro shop and a restaurant—all a Penn-ball bounce away from the East River. 51-24 2nd St between Borden and 51st Aves (718-392-1880).

9 The Yoga Room
Down dog! This bright and airy yoga center has classes in several forms, such asvinyasa and anusara, as well as Pilates, massage and acupuncture. The second floor hosts a lounge area and store, where such goods as yoga mats, bags, rugs, straps, and aromatherapy balms and sprays are on offer. 5-46 50th Ave between Vernon Blvd and 5th St (718-274-0255, yogaroomlic.com).