Now that school is out for the summer, it’s time for parents and children to start looking for fun events to fill their days.
This year, the city has expanded its summer recreational calendar and is rolling out 12 new programs while greatly enhancing and expanding five others. Most of the programs are geared for children, but the city is also offering a number of activities for adults such as aerobics and tennis.
Mother of three Nancy Orr said Wednesday that keeping their kids busy and entertained in during the summer is imperative.
“The summer is a nervous time for a lot of parents,” said Orr Wednesday evening. “Summer should be more than just playing PlayStation and wandering the streets. If you don’t plan it out and have sports or activities scheduled, your kids can get into a lot of trouble and mischief.”
This year’s free summer activities include:
Art in the Park
Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball Clinics
Golf Clinic
Gymnastics Camp
Girls Softball
Chess
Exercise regimens
Martial Arts on the Waterfront
Roller-skating/ Skateboarding
Slap Ball or Box Ball
Swimming
Table Tennis
Volley Ball
Wiffle Ball
According to city Director of Human Services Carmelo Garcia, this year’s programs are geared toward keeping as many Hoboken residents physically active as possible. Already, more than 200 area children have registered to participate in the recreation programs. “We are focusing on promoting programs that are developmental in nature,” said Garcia Tuesday. “That’s why we have a lot of clinics and educational type activities. We want to make sure that everyone, no matter what his or her skill level or abilities, can participate and have fun. We encourage every Hoboken resident to participate.”
For the little ones
One of the more popular programs with children between the ages of two and eight is the twice-a-week series Art in the Park. The program is a creative outlet to expend their boundless summer energy in an outdoor setting. Many different activities are offered, ranging from finger-painting, small crafts, sand and water fun, to storytelling and yoga. While not every activity is offered at every session, each gathering offers an eclectic mix where parents and their children can spend every Monday and Thursday throughout the summer enjoying the warm weather in Hoboken parks.
Every Monday, the Arts in the Park is offered at Pier A Park. On Thursday it is offered at Elysian Park, which is located on Hudson Street between 10th and 11th streets, with the activities starting at 10 a.m. and wrapping up around noon.
Not just for kids
Garcia added that one of the programs that he is most excited about is the “Exercise in the Park” program for adults. Every Monday at 7:30 this summer, a series of eight different workouts will be held at Pier A Park. The sessions include: spinning, which is a group stationery cycling class; “Jump It,” a cardiovascular and strength training class using a jump rope; kickboxing; and Bikram yoga, a demanding 26 posture series that develops strength, flexibility, and balance.
Other workouts are “SalsaRobics,” a fast paced workout to a salsa beat and live drums; Aerobox, a total body workout using boxing movements; Boot Camp, an aggressive military style circuit workout featuring high intensity power moves; and Tai Ji Quan, the study breathing, focusing energy and body movements.
All of the summer recreation programs that the city offers are free to Hoboken residents. Most of the programs begin on July 1 and run through August 28. The classes or clinics are filled on a first come, first serve basis. Before a child may participate in a program, their parent must fill out a registration form and a wavier form at City Hall.
For a full schedule of events or more information about the city’s summer recreation programs, call (201) 420-2094.
Mayor establishes Advisory Council on Health and Fitness
The Hoboken City Council and Mayor David Roberts have recently established the city’s first ever Advisory Council on Health and Fitness.
Recognizing that increased activity and exercise should be part of a daily routine, Roberts has assembled the Health and Fitness Council to facilitate the development of activities that will encourage Hoboken residents to move toward a healthier lifestyle.
The council, which is made up of three doctors, four fitness professionals and the city’s director of human resources, Carmelo Garcia, will develop a plan and programs that will aid in getting local residents physically active. The council will then work with the city in implementing those programs.
According to a study in the national journal, Science, 54 percent of all American adults are overweight, with 22 percent of adults obese. Even more disturbing were the statistics showing that 25 percent of children are overweight or obese. According to the Surgeon General’s latest report on Physical Activity and Health, most cases of obesity are due to inactivity.