Police Athletic League, Inc.

In 1914, Police Commissioner Arthur Woods began a social movement that would eventually be known as the Police Athletic League. He was concerned for the poor children who lived in congested tenements and organized a city-wide search for vacant lots to be converted into playgrounds. He also set aside city blocks where traffic was prohibited. A goal of the program was to reduce tensions between police officers and youth. When commissioner Woods inspected play streets, mothers rushed to thank him and children cheered his efforts.

At the same time, Captain John Sweeney of the Lower East Side 15th police precinct was creating a serious program for young boys, called the Junior Police. This group wore uniforms and participated in marching drills. They carried green andparticipated in the program which simulated the structure of the Police Department.

In 1929, Police Commissioner Grover A. Whalen appointed a committee on crime prevention to address growing concerns about juvenile delinquency. The Police Department began to focus on youth and took a leadership role in providing recreation. In 1931, Mayor James J Walker signed a bill to make the Crime Prevention Bureau, later known as the Juvenile Justice Aid Bureau, a permanent part of the Police Department.

The 1932 Annual report of the Police Department stated, "During a Depression, it is the children who stand in the greatest danger of permanent injury." In response, the Crime Prevention Bureau formed the Junior Police Athletic League.

The Police Athletic League was reorganized in 1936. Police Commissioner Lewis J. Valentine obtained a list of 5,000 truants to enroll in PAL. President Franklin D Roosevelt sent a letter to Deputy Commissioner Byrnes MacDonald stating, "I hope PAL Week will serve to focus attention on the constructive character building program of the Crime Prevention Bureau."

The late 1930s was a time of rapid expansion. PAL had over 70,000 members in 1937 and operated 69 indoor centers, many of which were dedicated to the memories of police officers who died in the line of duty. September 6, 1939 was PAL Day at the Words Fair in New York City, and a Playstreet was set up in the heart of the Fair.

PAL children contributed to wartime efforts by organizing scrap salvage drives , helping with Red Cross activities, knitting and working in Junior Commando training. PAL provided supervised care for the children of parents engaged in war work and civilian defense duties.

Due to a lack of funds during the war, the New York City Board of Estimate announced that Juvenile Aid Bureau would be abolished. Public outcry was great, and soon funds were found to continue PAL's operation.

In 1945, Mayor William O'Dwyer pledged "100% support" to the PAL program. During the late 1940s and early 1950s, PAL began hiring social workers to assist with the treatment of troubled youngsters. In 1949, PAL created the Placement Division to help young people find jobs, in addition to providing vocational guidance. During the 1950s, PAL athletes  captured the Golden Gloves and completed in the Helsinki Summer Olympics in 1952, and in the Melbourne Olympics of 1956. 

The 1960s marked a period of significant expansion in PAL's educational programs. Head start pre-school was initiated in 1964. President Lyndon B. Johnson launched the "War on Poverty" in 1963, and federal funds were allocated for PAL programs.