Thomas Jefferson Park

Sixth Annual Street Games In East Harlem Brings Back Classic Games Of The 60's And 70's

On Saturday, April 27th, NYC Parks and Disney hosted Street Games, a celebration of outdoor sports and classic games from the 60s and 70s, in Thomas Jefferson Park on 114th Street and First Avenue.
“The retro games played every year at Street Games are encourage kids to outside and get fit while having fun,” said Parks Commissioner Veronica M. White. “Hop-scotch, double dutch, handball and stickball are all part of the experience of growing up in New York City, and we’re glad that so many people joined us to play at Thomas Jefferson Park.”
“The Parks Department’s Street Games event brings so much joy to the El Barrio/East Harlem community,” said Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito. “It is a wonderful way to bring the community into Jefferson Park by offering such exciting programming and activities, especially classic games like stickball. I thank Parks Commissioner White and all of the sponsors who made this year’s event possible.”
“We are so pleased to present Street Games for the sixth year in a row,” said Deputy Parks Commissioner Robert Garafola. “I’d like to thank our presenting sponsors at Disney for being our longstanding partner in putting on this event, as well as our many other sponsors, including WABC-7, ESPN and Radio Disney.”
New Yorkers young – and young at heart – enjoyed the Classic Street Games zone and got moving with stickball, pogo sticks, hula hoops, double-dutch, yo-yos, and a skateboarding clinic.
The event also closed 114th Street and Pleasant Avenue just north of the Park to vehicle traffic, so kids could participate in a soap box derby, learn to ride a bike clinics, street hockey, and relay races. The Red Bulls hosted a Skills Challenge on the soccer fields, and a Slaps Handball clinic. Street Games is also more than just games – Radio Disney provided music all day and the Dance Theatre of Harlem performed.
Street Games 2013 was sponsored by Disney, WABC-7, ESPN and Radio Disney. Additional partners include Marvel Studio’s Iron Man 3, the New York Knicks, the New York Red Bulls, Cabot Cheese, VSP, The New Victory Theater, WBLS 107.5, Uptown Skate School and L Magazine.
NYC Parks produces a series of annual, large-scale festivals that provide unique, outdoor experiences for thousands of New Yorkers year-round. In addition to Street Games in the Spring, these include Adventures NYC (Summer), Pumpkin Fest (Fall), and Winter Jam NYC (Winter).

Know Before You Go

Thomas Jefferson Recreation Center