Being born and raised in New York City is a never-ending gift. People spend years of their lives dreaming of exploring the city that is right at our fingertips. Maybe you’ve wandered through Times Square or SOHO with some friends on a warm spring day or visited the Statue of Liberty or The Natural History Museum on a school trip. Yet New York City isn’t just a place for popular tourist destinations, but also one filled with “hidden gems” surrounding community and talent. For sports lovers, the best gem is the accessibility of college sports.
Columbia University is a renowned Ivy League school centered in Manhattan. When you hear Columbia, hundreds of thoughts might pop into your head about its academics or campus, but for a select few, the first idea is the athletic facility in Inwood: 21 acres of land that border the Hudson and Harlem Rivers to the north and west of 218th Street and Broadway. It is home to 14 varsity teams and 10 incredible sports facilities.
I’ve spent years exploring Inwood park, the stores in Inwood, and the Saturday farmers market before I first stepped foot inside Columbia’s athletic campus. For Columbia’s athletes these might be commonly used facilities, but for the everyday New Yorker these are not easily accessed; still, that doesn’t mean you can’t get yourself inside! Personally, I love to take advantage of the softball team playing! The athletic facility has a gorgeous, recently renovated softball field with bleachers behind for fans to watch. You can take the 1 train, or walk from the A, on a spring day when the Lions are playing at home and get the opportunity to watch an incredibly talented D1 team with beautiful positive energy.
On April 26th 2025, the HSMSE Girls’ softball team took a trip uptown to see Colombia play against Cornell. The girl’s stuck around for the first of two games before taking a walk for some pizza. Columbia mercied Cornell out 9-0 in the fifth inning.
The ability to watch such a high level of sport, especially at no fee, is inspirational. It allows for young athletes, like those at HSMSE, to become motivated by the game they watch and encourage them to stay involved! In addition, allowing the players to take notes and make observations on what they can implement in their own games next time. To think that this is some people’s ‘backyard’ or view from their window.
Talent at Columbia extends beyond the girls’ softball team. Other teams you can go watch, for free, include baseball, lacrosse, field hockey, and soccer. Using the Columbia website allows you to check when they play home next so you can be in the stands!