The Weehawken Recreation summer schedule kicked off Monday with a host of activities for everyone, from toddlers through seniors.
“We definitely try to offer a little bit of everything for everyone,” said Weehawken Recreation director Chuck Barone, whose summer recreation program includes daily events at the township’s five park sites, including a minimal use of the new waterfront recreational park. “We try as best as we can to keep everyone happy.”
Each of Weehawken’s parks is now offering arts and crafts and other fun activities each day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is plenty of adult supervision at each site and free lunches are also provided daily.
Water, water everywhere
“There is also the shower at each park for the kids to play in and keep cool,” Barone said. “The games and arts and crafts stop at 3 p.m., but we can keep the showers open an extra hour or two, depending on the hot weather.” In fact, the showers will remain open until 6 p.m. daily and will also be turned on during weekends between 12 noon and 6 p.m.
Newly refurbished Louisa Park is a major draw, with its new water recreation area, including water cannons, dump buckets and sprinklers.
Especially when the temperatures rise to the unbearable stages, the showers will be receiving constant activity all summer long.
Stuff your face
While the old standards, like the popular eating contests, such as the watermelon eating (Wednesday, July 25 at Weehawken Stadium at 6:30 p.m. for kids ages 3 through 10), and pie-eating (Wednesday, August 22 at 8 p.m. for kids of same age) remain staples of the summer fun, another fun event makes a return appearance. Beware Joey Chestnut, there might be some Weehawken youngsters coming after your Nathan’s world record hot dog eating record.
That’s right, the township’s Hot Dog Eating Contest for the older youngsters (Wednesday, August 22, at 7 p.m. for kids 9-12) is back again.
Both the pie-eating and hot dog eating contests will take place this year in conjunction with the annual “End of Summer Bash” that closes out the busy summer recreation schedule.
Golf, swimming
One of the more popular events in recent years was the inception of free golf clinics. Taught by Weehawken High School golf coaches Carnig Nersessian and Bob Zucconi, the township’s councilman-at-large, Weehawken youngsters have been introduced to the sport of golf for the first time.
This year, the golf program will include trips for the more experienced golfers to play regular rounds of golf at Bowling Green Golf Course in Oak Ridge, N.J.
The third annual Weehawken Open Golf Tournament will take place Thursday, August 16, at 12:30 p.m., also at Bowling Green.
Anyone interested can contact the Recreation office. A dinner, complete with awards, will follow the tournament at the course.
Swimming, yoga, basketball
Beginning this year, Weehawken youngsters can utilize the Stevens Institute of Technology Aquatic Center, Monday through Friday, from noon. to 2 p.m.
“I’m elated that we can use the facility at Stevens,” Barone said. “It’s a nice facility and we’re happy to be a part.”
In addition, there is also use of the fitness center at Stevens for adults 18 and up. Interested residents must pre-register to use the fitness facility in the Recreation office and the residents can use the facility Monday through Saturday during certain hours.
The Family Swim Sessions and Lap Swim Sessions will also take place at the Aquatic Center at Stevens, with the lap sessions geared for adults 17 and older. A schedule for available swim times will be provided upon registration at the Recreation office.
There are also the typical recreation events, like basketball leagues for boys and girls.
There will also be basketball clinics and contests throughout the summer.
One of the newer programs offered is Pilates lessons, held at Roosevelt School auditorium, on Thursday nights, from 7:30-8:30 p.m., under the guidance of a licensed instructor. There are also yoga lessons and T’ai Chi-Chih lessons, also at Roosevelt School.
Contests
Other staples of the summer include the annual jigsaw puzzle contest (July 24) and the amateur photo contest (Aug. 7), both of which will be judged at the Weehawken Free Public Library.
There are four themes to this year’s photo contest including: wildlife, New Jersey scene, landscapes and sports. Each contestant has to compose a brief essay as to why and how the picture was taken.
A new activity will be the “Weehawken Teen Idol” contest, a take-off on the popular “American Idol” show. Auditions for the contest will take place July 23, July 25 and July 30 at Roosevelt School.
“[We’re] trying to capitalize on ‘American Idol,’ see if we have talented singers,” Barone said. “We have two age groups (13-15 and 16-19) and it’s open to both boys and girls. The winners will then be showcased at the annual Weehawken Day Festival [Saturday, Sept. 29].”
For more information, call the Recreation office.
Day trips
The recreation department has also scheduled a series of day trips including: the Bronx Zoo (July 18 and Aug. 22), Island Beach (July 23) and High Point State Park (Aug. 9). Bear Mountain State Park for swimming and picnicking (July 17) and Sterling Hill Mines tour, a New Jersey historic site and mining tour (Aug. 6). All of those aforementioned trips are free of charge.
There are also trips to certain fun spots that require a co-payment, like Tomahawk Lake (July 26), Point Pleasant Beach and Boardwalk (Aug. 8), Wild West City (Aug. 15), Space Farms Zoo and Museum (July 30), Yates Musical Theater in Paramus (Aug. 2, for children ages 4-8, Alice in Wonderland), and Mountain Creek (Aug. 14).
Through the New Jersey State Recreation and Parks Association, the township offers discounted tickets for Great Adventure, Dorney Park, Camel Beach (Pa.), Morey’s Pier in Wildwood, Sesame Place, the Philadelphia Zoo and Water World Mountain Creek. Those discounted tickets are available at the recreation office.
Closing bash
The summer fun will come to an unofficial close on Wednesday, Aug. 22, when the seventh annual “End of Summer Bash” takes place, from 6 to 9 p.m., complete with tons of games, like a water balloon toss and a super soaker shooting contest, as well as free food and refreshments. Nearly 800 youngsters attended the event last year.
“We offer a full slate of activities throughout the summer and it culminates with that Summer Bash,” Barone said. “It’s a good way for the summer to draw to a close.”
And most of the activities and events, other than the field trips, are free of charge.
“We try to cover everyone and offer something for everyone,” Barone said.
“We offer a broad range of activities, from Pre-K aged children through senior citizens,” Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner said. “I think we offer the largest variety of events and activities than any other town that I’m familiar with. We have a well-rounded department and everything is well organized. About 99 percent of the activities are free. Only a certain amount of trips we charge for.”
Turner added that the summer recreation program helps to bring the township together.
“We have a totally integrated program, with kids of all race, ethnic background and socioeconomic background playing together,” Turner said. “They all interact. It’s amazing. I think having a free recreation program is critical. It allows everyone to interact. It’s a great way for everyone to get along. Our free recreation program is one of our benchmarks and is one of the critical elements that makes Weehawken the great community that it is. It’s a very unique community.”
Turner made one other point.
“Not only are our programs fun, but they’re also safe,” Turner said.
The full summer recreation schedule of events have been distributed throughout Weehawken in a promotional flier, but can also be found on the Weehawken website, which is www.weehawken-nj.us. For further information about Weehawken Recreation programs, contact the office at (201) 319-6061.