By The TimesLedger
The Police Athletic League (PAL) kicked off it’s 2002 Summer Playstreet Program in Queens on Monday, as hundreds of youngsters play skelly, double dutch jump rope and other city sidewalk games.
PAL’s Summer Playstreet Program closes off streets and other public areas throughout New York City to give children safe places to play. Playsites offer sports, arts. crafts, games, music and dance. PAL is operating in 223 neighborhoods this summer, including 151 playsite programs, 11 day camps, 52 sports locations and 10 child care programs. Some 60 of these playsites are located in housing developments throughout New York City, funded by the New York City Housing Authority. Mobile reading teachers will bring a variety of books to selected locations to encourage summer reading. For the third year, PAL is pleased to be a part of McDonald’s “Check It Out” program, in which children who read and report to their teachers on five books get a free Happy Meal from McDonald’s. PAL’s summer program serves approximately 38,000 children,
Playsites, which include organized play areas in playgrounds, schools or on actual city streets, are full-day programs, open Monday through Friday. PAL’s summer program also includes baseball and softball leagues for boys and girls baseball rookie leagues, part-time police precinct programs, evening teenage programs, five Head Start programs and two day care programs.
“For 88 years, playstreets have been one of PAL’s most popular activities,” said PAL Chairman Robert M. Morgenthau. “Playstreets began in 1914 when Police Commissioner Arthur Woods was concerned for children who lived in tenements with no safe places to play. He organized a city-wide search for vacant lots which could be converted into playgrounds and set aside 29 blocks as playground blocks. The reaction of mothers and children was overwhelming favorable. That is why the program has increased consistently and now reaches 223 neighborhoods.”
The Police Athletic League serves over 70,000 New York City boys and girls annually. Founded in 1914, PAL is New York City’s largest, independent, nonprofit youth organization. In addition to PAL’s well-known sports and recreational activities, the agency offers a wide variety of educational programs.
For further information, please call John Ryan at (212) 477-9450 for further information.
