With the school year quickly coming to a close, students’ attention turns to the outdoors. This year the city’s Recreation Department will be offering a full roster of mostly free events for the city’s youths and adults.
“Outdoor recreation in our urban oasis adds to our quality of life,” said Mayor David Roberts recently.
According to city Director of Human Services Carmelo Garcia, the activities will take place at various gymnasiums and parks throughout the city. For kids, the registration period is now through June 25 at Hoboken City Hall on the third floor in the Recreation Department. City officials ask that parents bring a copy of the kids’ birth certificate, along with proof of residency such as a rent receipt or gas bill.
The activities are open to Hoboken residents only, and each activity is on a first come, first serve basis. According to Garcia, most of the activities are free with the exception of gymnastics ($69) and family swimming ($25).
Most programs begin Monday, June 28.
This year, the Recreation Department will be running the following events:
* Jumping for Children (Exercise for Fitness)
* Kayaking
* Sailing School
* Aikido Camp
* Music Enrichment Program
* Recreational Fencing
* Skateboarding Clinic
* Devotion Yoga
* Aerobics on the Waterfront
* Boys’ Basketball Clinic
* Girls’ Basketball Clinic
* Creative Movement Workshop
* Girls’ Soccer Clinic
* Girls’ Softball Camp
* Gymnastics Camp
* Hoboken Baseball Camp
* Instructional Chess
* Roller Skating
* Soccer Clinic For all ages
* Swimming
* Table Tennis
* Tennis Classes for Kids & Adults
* Theater in the Park
* Ultimate Frisbee
* Volleyball
* Yoga on the Waterfront
The city’s Department of Cultural Affairs is also running its annual Art in the Park program for kids.
‘Art in the Park’
One of the more popular programs with children between the ages of 2 and 8 is that twice-a-week series, Art in the Park. The program is a creative outlet to expend children’s boundless summer energy in an outdoor setting. Activities are offered ranging from finger-painting, small crafts, and sand and water fun, to storytelling and yoga. While not every activity is offered at every session, each gathering offers an eclectic mix, and parents and their children can spend every Monday and Thursday throughout the summer enjoying the warm weather in Hoboken parks.
Every Monday, Arts in the Park is offered at Pier A Park. On Wednesdays in July and August only, it is offered in Jackson Street 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.
Sailing school
Introductory sailing classes will be offered this summer for the first time. They are being offered by the city and the Manhattan Yacht Club and will be held at the Applied Companies’ Shipyard Marina. Classes will accommodate four students at a time. Detailed information will be available at registration.
Swimming
During the summer months, the Hoboken High School pool at Ninth and Clinton streets will be open Monday through Thursday starting June 30. Toddlers will have the pool from 10 to 11 a.m.; beginners (5-10 years old), who must be accompanied by an adult, from 1 to 3 p.m.; experienced swimmers (8-13 years old) from 3 to 5 p.m.; family swimming on Tuesday and Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m., and adult swim conditioning on Monday and Wednesday from 8 to 9 p.m.
There will be a $25 fee for six weeks of family swim. Family swim consists of two adults and a maximum of three children. Each additional child will be $10.
Also opening this summer will be two temporary pools that hold 40 to 50 swimmers each. Both above-ground pools have already been built and will open June 28, according to Garcia. One is located at the Wallace School at 11th and Willow Avenue, and the other is at the Boys and Girls Club at 123 Jefferson St. These pools will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
According to Garcia, it will be free to swim in these outdoor pools, but only Hoboken residents can use them. Those interested must pre-register with the city’s Recreation Department.
For more information, call the city’s recreation department at (201) 420-2094.