PAL kicks off Summer Playstreet Program

In an effort to give kids activities during the inactive months of July and August, the Police Athletic League (PAL) will launch their 2006 Summer Playstreet Program in Queens on Monday, July 10th. Hundreds of youngsters will get a chance to play traditional sidewalk games, develop their creativity through arts and crafts, choose books from a mobile reading library and make new friends throughout the summer.
Closing off streets and utilizing other public areas, such as playgrounds and parks throughout New York City, the PAL's Summer Playstreet Program provides children with safe, supervised places to enjoy outdoor summer activities.
The various sites offer sports, arts and crafts, games, music and dance. Summer reading is encouraged by mobile reading teachers, making an assortment of books readily available to PAL youngsters. The organization is operating in over 210 neighborhoods this summer, including 130 playsite programs, 13 day camps, sports locations and child care programs. Forty of these playsites are located in housing developments, funded by the New York City Housing Authority. PAL summer programs serve over 25,000 children each summer.
Playsites 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, a youth summer employment program that has helped over 1,600 students find jobs each year, and a series of fun-filled special events.
&#8220For over 90 years, PAL's Summer Programs have been a source of support, development, and inspiration for young people throughout the five boroughs of our great city,” says Police Athletic League Executive Director John Ryan. &#8220Each year, PAL's Summer Programs continue to provide safe places for children to play in neighborhoods with limited recreational space.”
The sites include Austin Playground at Austin Street between 76th Drive and 76th Avenue in Forest Hills; Boulevard Gardens at 57th Street and 31st Avenue in Woodside; Woodside Houses at 51 Street and Broadway in Woodside and Queensbridge Houses at 10-06 41st Avenue in Long Island City.
For more information, go to www.palnyc.org or call (212) 477-9450.