CONTACTS: Andrea Kotuk / Andrea & Associates / (212) 353-9585
Frederick J. Watts / Police Athletic League/ (212) 477-9450
POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE ANNOUNCES OPENING OF SUMMER PLAYSTREETS PROGRAM IN BROOKLYN
For over 100 years, the Police Athletic League (PAL) has provided safe places to play and learn for thousands of children through its Summer Playstreets Program. PAL’s 2019 Summer Playstreets Program takes place in public areas, such as playgrounds and parks, throughout New York City to provide children with safe, supervised places to enjoy outdoor summer activities.
In Brooklyn, Playstreets are open Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. through August 9th, and are free to all New York City children. PAL is operating 17 Playstreets throughout the five boroughs this summer, in addition to numerous sports leagues, including Cops & Kids, and summer day camps serving nearly 10,000 children. Playstreets activities include fitness challenges, nutrition education and basketball clinics and tournaments.
Through PAL FIT Challenges, which focus on combating childhood obesity, children have the opportunity to exercise and follow a healthy lifestyle. PAL’s nutrition education program teaches participants about healthy food choices while encouraging children to log their daily water consumption as part of a site-based challenge.
Playstreet basketball clinics take place Monday through Thursday and are open to boys and girls ages 5-17. Basketball clinics are split into three levels: biddies/pee wee, novice/junior and varsity. Biddies/pee wee clinics are available for children ages 5-8 and focus on fundamental skills such as footwork, layups, dribbling and passing. Novice/junior clinics are open to children ages 9-12 and focus on the development of skills taught in the biddies/pee wee clinic while incorporating defense strategies, rebounding and more advanced concepts. Children ages 13-17 can participate in Varsity Clinics, which cover higher-level team concepts, drills and age appropriate skill focus. Competitions, including three point/free throw contests and fitness obstacle courses, will also take place. Additionally, special themed 5-on-5 basketball tournaments are held every Thursday.
PAL 2019 Summer Playstreets locations in Brooklyn include Fox Playground, 5324 Avenue H; Howard Playground, 60 Glenmore Avenue; Coffey Park, 31 Centre Mall; Bushwick Houses, 372 Bushwick Avenue; Dr. Green Park, 500 Mother Gaston Boulevard, and Tompkins Houses, 77 Tompkins Avenue.
New York City’s Police Athletic League is the first and finest civilian-run PAL in the country. Founded in 1914, PAL has served the city’s young people for over 100 years. PAL provides recreational, educational, cultural and social activities to 30,000 boys and girls annually. It is also the city’s largest, independent, nonprofit youth organization. For more information, please visit www.palnyc.org.
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Photo Courtesy of Police Athletic League