Randall's Island Park

The Daily Plant : Wednesday, March 14, 2001

SHOOTING WITH THE STARS

Six skilled shooters from afterschool programs at Carmine and St. Johns Recreation Centers met their opponents on the floor of Madison Square Garden within minutes after stars from the New York Knicks and Miami Heat had left the court. Tess Jones and Kelsey Lafer, age 8, and Marcus Tucker, Darrell Robinson, Sky Lindsay, and Shadae Rice age 10, had emerged victorious from Parks' NBA Two-Ball tournament, and thereby earned the right to compete against young athletes from nonprofit organizations of the greater metropolitan area, including the Children's Aid Society, the Boys Club of New York, and the YMCA. On Sunday, March 11, with the fast pace of the Knicks/Heat game lingering in the air, the young athletes assumed their position on the court for 60 seconds of strategic shooting.

In a two-ball competition, two-person teams shoot for points from pre-determined locations on the court. They have one minute in which to score as many points as possible. Al Peterson, Community Coordinator in Manhattan and Marc Rogers, Sports Coordinator for Manhattan organized a two-ball tournament at nine recreation centers in February that taught kids the finer points of the game. Teams from St. Mary's, Brownsville, St. Johns, Sunset Park, Carmine, Hansborough, Jackie Robinson, Roy Wilkins, and Sorrentino Recreation Centers participated. On Sunday six kids proved how much they'd learned. The 10-year-old boy and girl teams took second place, and the 8 year-old-girls scored 17 points to win their division.

PASE HONORS SIX PARKIES FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO AFTERSCHOOL EDUCATION

On Thursday, March 8, 2001, the Skylight Ballroom at the top of the famous Puck Building on Lafayette Street in Lower Manhattan shimmered with the combined energy of over two hundred dedicated and innovative educators. They were gathered to honor the winners of the 2001 PASEsetter Awards for Outstanding After School Educators.

The annual awards reception, help by the Partnership for After School Education (PASE), presents trophies to five winners and cash awards to the winners' agencies to honor afterschool educators "whose commitment, energy, and creativity have had a positive impact upon the children and youth of New York City." Runners-up receive a certificate of excellence.

This year, Parks had the most certificate winners of any organization represented at the awards. Of Parks staff members nominated, no less than six were recipients of Certificates of Excellence. They are: Sandra Coello, Recreation Specialist at Fort Hamilton Senior Center in Brooklyn; Neversee Davis, Recreation Specialist at Von King Cultural Arts Center in Brooklyn, Juan Rios, Deputy Manager at Sunset Park Recreation Center in Brooklyn; Ron Brown, Director of Detective Keith Williams Center in Liberty Park, Queens; Raquel Nunez, Playground Associate at Lost Battalion Hall Recreation Center; and Mary Cali, Recreation Specialist at Levy Playground Recreation Center in Staten Island.

We congratulate these Parkies whose individual efforts and dedication represent Parks' commitment to quality to afterschool education.

By Deborah (Rogue) Zingale, Administrative Assistant to the Brooklyn Chief of Recreation

THIRTEEN YEARS AGO IN THE PLANT
(Wednesday, March 23, 1988)

DOWNING STADIUM REBORN:
100 SPORTING EVENTS FOR 1988

Last April, Downing Stadium, the city's only free, Olympic-sized outdoor track & field facility, reopened following a $690,000 capital restoration. And this year, as the mercury rises, the number of athletic events at the stadium is burgeoning.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage."

Anais Nin (1903-1977)