Where are all of those stroller moms going?
It’s a question that many people travelling the streets of Hoboken may ask, and rightfully so. In a city seemingly full of young families, Hoboken’s Department of Cultural Affairs has kept up with the trend, offering “Art in the Park,” a program for moms and toddlers ages 4 and under.
Nora Martinez DeBenedetto currently operates the program, which is held three days per week in parks throughout the city.
“It’s an opportunity for kids to have an experience with art provided by the city,” she said. “It’s a lovely program. I try to give them a couple different experiences each week.”
For more information about Art in the Park, contact Geri Fallo at (201) 420-2207
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“I’m very big into recycled art,” she said. “We’ve made binoculars out of toilet paper rolls, and I also have been collecting tops from soda bottles for months and months for projects.”
Moves around
Art in the Park is held in Pier A Park on Mondays, Elysian Park on Wednesdays, and in Jackson Street Park on Fridays.
“There’s upwards of 60 kids in the classes,” Martinez DeBenedetto said. “It’s nice for small children to be in an environment where they can be with other kids. It’s kind of a pre, pre-school program that focuses on art and textual experiences.”
Martinez DeBenedetto, who is a pre-school teacher, said the class fills a void for children who may be too young for other activities.
“For children of that age there aren’t a lot of options,” she said. “When your child is 2 there are really not a lot of choices. It’s really wonderful that there’s an opportunity for 2-year-olds to interact with their friends and get the basics of what they’re going to be seeing when they go to preschool. Moms love to see their kids playing with other kids.”
The fact that Hoboken is full of young parents also helps the program thrive.
“Hoboken’s got a million kids,” Martinez DeBenedetto said. “It’s really great to have the city provide something for the babies and their mothers.”
Geri Fallo, the director of the city’s Cultural Affairs Department, said the program started many years ago when a constituent approached a councilman, recommending that Hoboken look into a similar program across the river in Manhattan.
“We went to New York and checked out their program and I said we can recreate something like this,” Fallo said.
In the beginning, there were no limits on class sizes, and Fallo said the scene was sometimes hectic, with “180 kids just running around.”
Now, it’s a more controlled environment, with limits on class sizes. While many classes are full, there are still a few spots left for the Wednesday afternoon sessions, Fallo said.
There is a small fee to enter the program, as the city charges $25 for six classes. For more information about Art in the Park, contact Geri Fallo at (201) 420-2207.
Ray Smith may be reached at RSmith@hudsonreporter.com