City Director of Human Services Carmelo Garcia announced Wednesday that the Recreation Department has plans to greatly expand the hours at the roller-hockey/basketball court at the Multi-Service Center at 124 Grand St.
According to Garcia, since opening in 2000, the outdoor roller-rink and basketball courts have only been open three days a week. Because of this, it was a common sight to see area kids and adults scaling the fence on days that the rink was closed.
Fourth Ward City Councilman Christopher Campos, who was one of the biggest advocates of extending park hours, said Wednesday afternoon that expanding the hours is a good thing for the children and adults in the community.
“One of the worst things you can do is to have a beautiful park locked up,” he said. “This is a gem in the 4th Ward. Now more families will be able to use [the rink], and that’s definitely something that is encouraging.”
The city will open the rink to the community seven days a week throughout the spring, summer and fall. Garcia added that in the past, even while open, there was no supervision at the rink when there weren’t hockey games, so it was often a “free-for-all.”
Now he said that whenever the rink is open, the space will be tightly programmed, and there will be a supervisor from the Recreation Department on hand.
On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and Sunday there will be open skating and roller-hockey games. On Tuesday and Thursday there will be pick-up basketball games, and on Saturday there will be a combination of hockey games, open skating and basketball. The new hours start April 1.
The department of recreation also offers hockey leagues for youths, teenagers and adults.
For information on how to sign up, call (201) 420-2094. The league is free for youths and teenagers, but players must supply their own skates, stick, and pads.
Garcia said that there are subsidies available for families who can’t afford equipment. For more information on those subsidies call the number listed above.
Indoors at the Multi-Service Center, the city has also recently resurfaced the gym floor. “Because of so much foot traffic, the gym floors really needed to be refinished,” said Garcia. He added that the gym hosts the recreation department’s basketball games and Recreation Department’s cheerleaders, as well as adult basketball leagues. For more information on these leagues call (201) 420-2094.
Rink’s new hours
Monday: Open skate 4-6 p.m., hockey games 6 to 10 p.m.
Tuesday: Pick-up basketball games 4-10 p.m.
Wednesday: Open skate 4-6 p.m., hockey games 6 to 10 p.m.
Thursday: Pick-up basketball games 4-10 p.m.
Friday: Hockey Games 4-10 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Hockey, 2:30-5:30 p.m. open skate, 5:30-8 p.m. basketball.
Sunday: Open skate 12-5 p.m.