From basketball and volleyball to arts and crafts and monopoly, West New York kids will never be able to say they have nothing to do.
More than 700 kids ages 6 to 18 have registered for West New York’s recreation program this summer.
The program, which runs primarily from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., utilizes all of the town’s parks and playgrounds as well as the Joseph Coviello Recreation Center on 57th Street and Broadway.
“Any kid that wants to keep busy, we can keep them busy,” said Dennis DeSocio, the director of recreational programs in West New York.
The program also has activities for senior citizens as well as field trips.
Lots of things to do
Although many kids sign up for specific activities when they register for the summer program, which runs until Aug. 30, once the program begins the children are bouncing back and forth between different activities.
“We don’t deny any kid access to the building or any program,” said DeSocio.
“I came here for the cheerleading program,” said Naile Fernandez, 11. According to DeSocio, cheerleading and dance is one of the program’s biggest activities. “But then I saw the other programs and they looked like fun too,” Naile said.
DeSocio said that about 150 children are bussed to the West New York municipal swimming pool each morning as well. The pool is opened from 10 a.m. to 12p.m. specifically for the recreation program. The pool then opens to the public at 12 p.m.
The recreation center, which usually houses about 350 children each day, offers instructional programs in volleyball, basketball, cheerleading and gymnastics as well as the use of pool tables, a weight room and arts and crafts classes.
Shanelle Ramos, 10, and friends Naile and Yamile Fernandez, both 11, look forward to the basketball program each afternoon.
“Yesterday we had a competition and we lost by one point,” said Shanelle Ramos, 10, who likes the basketball program best. “Even if we win, or lose, I still like it.”
“I am going to get practice and exercise,” said Ramos. “That is pretty cool.”
Naile Fernandez’s twin sister Yamile also enjoys attending the recreation program.
“I will definitely register again next summer,” said Yamile.
In the town’s parks, the children are kept busy with some sports programs as well as checkers, Monopoly and other board games.
DeSocio said that the program also employs more than 200 high school and college students.
Seventeen-year-old Andy Luna, who has worked with the program for two years, said that he enjoys working for the recreation program.
“I get to play with these kids and teach them,” said Andy, a student at Memorial High School. “I like to see the smiles on the kids faces.”
Andy also likes that he gets to work at a different activity everyday.
“They bounce me around a lot,” said Andy, who was helping some children learn how to play pool last week. “Sometimes I also help with the basketball or volleyball activities.”
Seniors have fun too
The recreation program in West New York isn’t only for the kids. The program also offers many programs for senior citizens.
DeSocio said that the seniors use the town’s swim center from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. each morning. The program also offers Tai Chi and self-defense classes and Bingo for senior citizens.
DeSocio also takes the older members of the program on shopping trips each day, bringing the seniors to a different mall each day.
Some other field trips offered to senior citizens include a trip to Point Pleasant beach, Monmouth Race Track, and Atlantic City.