PAL Kicks Off Queens Summer Playstreet Program

Youngsters at a PAL play site beat the summer heat.

The Police Athletic League (PAL) will launch its 2006 Summer Program in Queens on Monday, July 10. Hundreds of PAL youngsters play traditional sidewalk games, develop their creativity through arts and crafts, choose books from a mobile reading library and make new friends throughout the summer.

PAL's Summer Playstreet Program closes off streets and utilizes other public areas, such as playgrounds and parks, throughout New York City to provide children with safe, supervised places to enjoy outdoor summer activities. Play sites offer sports, arts and crafts, games, music and dance. Summer reading is encouraged by mobile reading teachers, making an assortment of books readily available to PAL youngsters. PAL is operating in more than 210 neighborhoods this summer, including 130 play site programs, 13 day camps, sports locations and child care programs. Forty of these play sites are located in housing developments, funded by the New York City Housing Authority. PAL summer programs serve more than 25,000 children each summer.

Play sites are full-day programs, open Monday through Friday. PAL's summer program also includes baseball and softball leagues for boys and girls, baseball rookie leagues, part-time police precinct programs, a youth summer employment

program that has helped more than 1,600 students find jobs each year, and a series of fun-filled special events.

"For over 90 years, PAL's Summer Programs have been a source of support, development, and inspiration for young people throughout the five boroughs of our great city," Police Athletic League Executive Director John Ryan said. "Each year, PAL's Summer Programs continue to provide safe places for children to play in neighborhoods with limited recreational space."

This year, five PAL play sites are sponsored by the Metropolitan Life Foundation. The Rudin Foundation provides funding for three play sites. In addition, Fidelis Care and Center Care Health Plan sponsor 34 play sites.

The Police Athletic League, founded in 1914, has been serving New York City's young people for more than 90 years. PAL currently provides recreational, educational, cultural and social activities to 70,000 boys and girls each year. It is the city's largest, independent, nonprofit youth organization.

A list of play sites follows. For more information, go to www.palnyc.org or call 212-477-9450.

109th Police Precinct, Community Board 8 Whitestone Playground 154th Street and 14th Avenue, Whitestone

112th Precinct, Community Board 6 Austin Playground Austin Street, 76th Drive and 76th Avenue, Forest Hills

114th Police Precinct, Community Board 1 Boulevard Gardens 57th Street and 31st Avenue, Woodside; Astoria Houses 4-20 Astoria Blvd., Astoria;

Woodside Houses 51st Street and Broadway, Woodside; Queensbridge Houses 10-06 41st Ave, Long Island City

107th Police Precinct, Community Board 7 Pomonok Houses 67-10 Parsons Blvd., Flushing