Manhattan Youngsters Celebrate Police Athletic League City-Wide Summer Programs

On July 18, 2017, girls and boys from Manhattan joined hundreds of children at the Police Athletic League’s (PAL) Harlem Center, located at 441 Manhattan Avenue, in a celebration of PAL’s Summer Programs that take place throughout the city. Youngsters enjoyed summertime fun and games, including double dutch jump rope, nok hockey, hopscotch, tug-of-war, face-painting, balloon making, sports, rock climbing and more.

Young people cooled off under a fire hydrant opened by PAL Chairman Robert M. Morgenthau, Executive Director of the Police Athletic League Frederick Watts, Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill and other distinguished guests. PAL celebrated its partnership with the NYPD by acknowledging Police Officers who have volunteered for PAL’s Cops & Kids program. Among the honorees were James P. O'Neill, Police Commissioner; Benjamin B. Tucker, First Deputy Commissioner; Lawrence Byrne, Deputy Commissioner; Carlos M. Gomez, Chief of Department; Joanne Jaffe, Chief of Community Affairs; Terence Monahan, Chief of Patrol Services; James A. Secreto, Chief of Housing and many more.

J’Nai, who attends PAL’s Polo Grounds Cornerstone, located at 3005 Frederick Douglass Boulevard, enjoyed rock climbing at the celebration, and says since she’s joined PAL she believes that “cops are helpful to the world.”

PAL Summer programs take place throughout the five boroughs, providing Playstreets, sports leagues, including Cops & Kids teams, and summer day camps. “This celebration served as a showcase for all the amazing activities PAL offers to New York City kids during the summer, from basketball clinics and field trips to exploring new neighborhoods and experiencing different adventures,” said Frederick Watts, Executive Director, Police Athletic League. “This day was especially important because hundreds of police officers who volunteer with PAL were recognized for their contributions. Police officers serve as coaches and play with PAL youth, help with homework and read with the young people. In these trying times, no matter the activity, it makes a difference in the lives of the kids and of the officers.”

New York City’s Police Athletic League is the first and finest civilian-run PAL in the country. Founded in 1914, PAL has served the city’s young people for over 100 years. PAL provides recreational, educational, cultural and social activities to 35,000 boys and girls annually. It is also the city’s largest, independent, nonprofit youth organization. For more information, please visit www.palnyc.org.