The Roy Wilkins Recreation Center in Jamaica and the Sorrentino Recreation Center in Far Rockaway will now offer extended hours on evenings and weekends giving residents greater access to sports and fitness programming, indoor courts, exercise equipment and more.
The two centers are among nine recreation centers across the five boroughs that will have expanded hours offering additional programming, including New York City’s signature Saturday Night Lights program for youths, Mayor Eric Adams and NYC Parks Department Commissioner Sue Donoghue announced on Oct. 3.
The increase was made possible with $7.1 million in funding by Adams in the fiscal year 2023 budget.
“Recreation centers and the programming they offer change lives and ensure our young people are not left behind,” Adams said. “Through our $7.1 million investment in expanded hours for recreation centers, we are providing New Yorkers in all five boroughs positive programming and a safe space to grow, learn, and build community. Saturday Night Lights is a hallmark of this administration’s investments and our commitment to free, high-quality activities for our youth, and I’m proud that these expanded hours will connect even more young people to this program.”
Donoghue said the Parks Department is proud to partner with sister agencies to expand the Saturday Night Lights program, which has proved to have positive and lasting impacts on the youth.
“Thanks to $7.1 million in new funding from Mayor Adams, people who live in the areas most impacted by COVID-19 will benefit from safe, welcoming spaces and positive programming,” Donoghue said.
The Roy Wilkins Recreation Center, located at 177-01 Baisley Blvd. will be open Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. These same hours are reflected at The Sorrentino Recreation Center, located at 18-48 Cornaga Ave.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards commended Adams and the NYC Parks Department for expanding hours at the recreation centers in southeast Queens and Far Rockaway.
“Ensuring our youth and our families have safe, healthy spaces to grow and engage with their neighbors is critical to the well-being of our borough and our city,” Richards said. “I’m grateful to Mayor Adams and NYC Parks for its commitment to the families of southeast Queens and Far Rockaway, and I look forward to working with the administration to expand and empower community programming across The World’s Borough.”
