By Connor Adams Sheets
Captain Tilly Park in Jamaica Hills was a little more festive than usual Sunday afternoon as residents gathered in the bucolic greenspace to enjoy one of the first glorious days of autumn.
Featuring festive, booming music, hula-hooping, moon bounces and more, the free event was a chance for area residents to relax before starting the work week and school week.
Hosted by the city Parks Department and City Councilman James Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows), the so-called “Jamaica Family Day” was a smashing success, drawing hundreds of revelers throughout the day.
“We chose to have it just after school started. We didn’t want to have it right before school started, when people are running around,” said Brad Groznik, Gennaro’s communications director. “We just want people to come enjoy themselves. If you play music this loud on a Sunday, people will hear it and come. It’s been busy all day. It’s a family day for people to come out on a Sunday afternoon, and the weather’s so nice.”
Each year the Parks Department provides for each Council member to host one of these events in his or her district, and Gennaro chose Captain Tilly Park this time around.
That choice made 12-year-old Jamaica resident Christopher Stena happy.
“This is so cool because it’s like the first time all this is here,” he said. “We were just going to come down and fish and climb some trees and spar, and another friend coming down the hill told us this was going on, so we rushed over here. It’s fun. We’re about to go to the pond and stuff, and I played on the bouncy slide.”
Jamaica resident Mohammad Aslam also came out to join the fun, bringing his children along with him.
“It’s good. It’s our first time coming to this,” he said. “I brought my children, my two sons and my daughter. They’re having a very goods time. It’s a lot of fun.”
Reach reporter Connor Adams Sheets by e-mail at csheets@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4538.
