Riverside Park

The Daily Plant : Monday, September 16, 2002

SUMMER RECREATION DRAWS TO A CLOSE

Photograph by Kelly Gillen

This summer Recreation coordinated numerous special events and citywide programs in athletics, leadership, and the arts. These programs included Summer Fun in the Playground, Summer Festivals, Hoops and Leaders Basketball Camp, Performance Project, United States Youth Games, teen programs, a baseball leadership camp, and Summer of Soccer. In addition Recreation worked with Marketing & Special Events to produce Rock 'n' Rollerblade and citywide tournaments in handball and beach volleyball. Three highlights of these programs include Parks Summer Classic, the Summer Festivals, and Summer of Soccer.

Beginning in July, over 500 boys and girls participated in the Parks Summer Classic, a 15 and under outdoor basketball tournament. The tournament was held at Roy Wilkins Park, Brownsville Recreation Center, Hamilton Fish Park, Cromwell Recreation Center, and St. Mary's Park. After a summer of hard-fought competition the citywide finals were held on August 31 at Hamilton Fish Park. The Kips Bay Mustangs of the Bronx defeated Queens in the girls' final, while the Roy Wilkins Panthers defeated Starrett City Brooklyn in a close match. Players received reversible jerseys for the final game, trophies, and basketball highlight videos.

Throughout July and August, Recreation hosted 11 Summer Festivals citywide. Summer Festivals are one day carnivals that provide children with a day of free supervised activities such as arts & crafts, face painting, rides, carnival games, music, dancing, contests, puppet shows and mobile unit activities. Over 8500 children citywide took advantage of these great events. Parks received extra goodies for the children to enjoy from many different organizations, such as Radio Disney, Wise Potato Chips, Chips Ahoy, the New York Rangers, the New York Mets, the Brooklyn Children's Museum, and Mountain Dew. Children were given food, drinks and prizes from all these organizations.

In the hot summer months of July and August, Parks, Teens at Parks, and Nike joined together to present Summer of Soccer 2002. The soccer fields of Flushing Meadow-Corona Park in Queens and Riverside Park in Manhattan came alive with hundreds of young players all hoping to improve their soccer skills. Each weekday evening from 5-8pm, players from across the city turned out to compete in 6-a-side games and participate in special events with local professional players. Players from the New York/New Jersey MetroStars and the New York Power showed their support of the community and Summer of Soccer with visits to both sites. We are looking forward to expanding the program in 2003!

We would like to thank Recreation for working so hard for the patrons of our parks!

Written by Jonathan Ells

THIRTEEN YEARS AGO IN THE PLANT
(Tuesday, September 26, 1989)
TOUGH RIDE FOR CAR DUMPERS

This summer the night spot of choice for Parks attorneys has been Small Claims Court, where the Legal division pursued and won eight cases against owners of vehicles abandoned on parkland.

Parks first began to pursue litigation against car dumpers approximately two years ago. "We went to court to get reimbursement for the cost of removing the cars and any damage to the park itself," said Counsel Sidney Nowell.

Vehicles found abandoned in parks are traced back to the owners by the Vehicle Identification Number found on the car. If the car is not reported stolen, the owner is held legally responsible for the dumping. Summonses are issued and defendants are then required to appear in Small Claims Court. A legal representative from Parks attends the court's evening sessions to state the charges.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY
''Kick out the gloom,
Kick out the blues,
Tear out the pages with all the bad news.
The Cure, ''Doing the Unstuck''
1993

Know Before You Go

Riverside Park

West 79th Street Boat Basin

Riverside Park (79th Street)