Many people do not know about or take advantage of the Day Camp Program operated by the New York City Department of Parks. There are 27 camps in all 5 boroughs for children aged 6-13. They are an economical answer to private camps. The activities take place in several of the Department of Parks recreation centers and there are two field trips a week to various venues in the city.
Contact the center nearest you to get the details on what their specific program contains and the cost of the program. It is well worth looking into. You child will be in a safe environment near enough to home to be picked up in an emergency and far enough away to feel independent. They do have a limited number of spaces available, so contact them as soon as possible.
There are four in the Bronx, Five in Brooklyn, six in Manhattan, six in Queens and one on Staten Island. Check out the site and see what each one has to offer.
Another program that the Department of Parks operates for children during the summer is The Playground Associate Program. In this program the children are supervised by qualified adults in different activities such as sports, board games, arts and crafts, tournaments, water games, organized walks. The activities depend on what is available in each park. There are over 120 parks, both large and small all across the city that participate in The Playground Associate Program.
IN the Bronx the program is available at Willis Playground,
Flynn Playground, Tiffany, Basil Behagen,
Crotona Playground 10, Nelson, Slattery , Echo – NPI, Tremont – NPI, Tremont, Williamsbridge Oval, Williamsbridge Oval – NPI, Spuyten Duyvil, Soundview, Pelham Bay, Pearly Gates, Loreto,
Haffen ,
Haffen – NPI, River Park, Woodlawn, Hunts Point,
and St. James.
Call the Borough Recreation Office: (718) 430-1825 to get information,
In Brooklyn
Sternberg Playground, Underwood Kosciuszko Pool, Raymond Bush , Linden Park, Carroll Park, Greenwood, Mt. Prospect,Owls Head, Betty Rappaport, Kelly, Marine Park Nature Center, Harmony Playground, McGolrick, Maria Hernandez,
Martin Luther King, Coffey, Sunset Park,
Bensonhurst and Paerdegat
Borough Recreation Office: (718) 965-8938
In Manhattan
Jackie Robinson, East River Park, Thomas Jefferson Park, Indian Road Playground, J. Hood Wright,
Washington Market, Union Square Park, Madison Square Park, Samuel Bennerson, Vincent Albano, Chelsea, Bleecker Playground, Seward, McCaffrey, Augustus Saint Gaudens, St. Vartan Park,
Hamilton Playground, Playground 70, St. Catherine’s Park,
Carl Shurz Park, Carmansville, Martin Luther King Playground, Morningside Park , Cherry Tree
Bennett ParkElephant Playground/River Run, Riverside Park, Hippo Playground /Dinosaur Playground, Riverside Park, Dolphin Playground /Riverbank, Riverside Park and Asser Levy
Borough Recreation Office: (212) 408-0243
In Queens
ARROW Community Center, Astoria, Queensbridge, Torsney Playground, Travers Park, Grover Cleveland Park, Maurice Park, Rosemary Playground ,Cpt. Mario Fajardo Park, Cunningham Park , Fresh Meadows Park, Hollis Playground , Rochdale Park (Vic Hanson), Juniper Park, Russell Sage, Yellowstone Park, Lost Battalion Hall,
Bowne Park, Vleigh Place Playground, Hoover Manton Playground, London Planetree, Smokey Oval, Judge Park,
PO Byrne Park, Underhill Playground, Crocheron Park,
Liberty Park (DKW), Nautilus Playground, St. Albans Park
Cambria Playground, Seaside Playground, Westbourne Park,
Bayswater Park, Dry Harbor Playground, Greenhouse Playground (Skate Park) and The Playground for All Children, Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Borough Recreation Office: (718) 520-5918
In Staten Island
Corporal Thompson, PS 14/Stapleton, Midland Skate Park, Old Town, Clove Lakes, Cromwell Center, Grandview, Levy Playground, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, IS 7, Dugan , PS 46 , PS 38, Bloomingdale Park, Tappen Park,
Jennifer Playground, PS 14/Stapleton, and Veterans.
