City of New York Parks & Recreation Queens Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor Sept./Oct. 2007 Parks Post Adrian Benepe, Commissioner Borough Beat Photo of the Month

Queens parks are rollin’! The Kissena Velodrome, built for the 1964 Olympic trials, is part of a long tradition of bicycle racing in New York City. Now the only cycling track in the City, it is home to the first year- round afterschool track cycling program in New York City. Kids ages 9 to 13 can sign up for Star Track, starting in September on Tuesday – Thursday afternoons and Saturday mornings. And don’t forget to check out Queens’ mountain biking trail – the second in the City.

Visit www.nyc.gov/parks or call 311 for more information.

See you in the parks!

Adrian Benepe, Commissioner Kids from local Recreation Center camps try out the climbing wall Dorothy Lewandowski, at Alley Pond Park Adventure Course, which opened in July. Queens Commissioner Photo: Daniel Avila

Citywide Spotlight

Parks Afterschool Programs Are Starting Now! Every school day until 6:00 p.m., thousands of New York City kids, ages 6 to 13 attend one of the Parks Department’s 35 Afterschool programs citywide. Parks Afterschool offers quality programs that promote the social, physical, intellectual and emotional development of children and youth. This past year, kids made comic books using computer graphics, choreographed dance routines, learned martial arts techniques, visited art museums, played musical instruments, learned chess through our ‘Chess-in- the-Schools’ programs, wrote poetry, planned their financial futures and participated in the first annual Afterschool Spelling Bee.

The Parks Department partners with organizations like New York Cares, the YMCA, NYC Global Partners and the Museum of Arts & Design to bring new experiences to kids all over the City.

For more information, or to register for the Parks Department’s Afterschool Program, visit www.nyc.gov/parks or call (212) 360-3300. www.nyc.gov/parks CALENDAR Feature of the Month

Adventure in Alley Pond Park Back to School Festival LITTLE BAY PARK New York City’s first public Adventure Course - and the largest in the northeast - is now open in Alley Pond Park. The Alley Pond Park Adventure September 8 @ 12:00 p.m. Course is a challenging outdoor personal development and team-building activity course with both high and low elements. Low elements take place 24th Annual on the ground or on cables suspended a few feet above the ground. High Queens County Fair elements, such as the zip line and “flying squirrel,” take place on cables QUEENS COUNTY FARM MUSEUM suspended 45 feet in the air and require a harness and climbing rope for September 15 & 16 @ 11:00 a.m. safety.

Junta Hispana The Adventure Course is a permanent addition to the Urban Park Rangers’ Adventure program, which also offers canoeing, fishing, hiking and overnight MULTIPLE PARKS camping. Schools, camps, groups and the general public (ages 8 and up) are September 23 @ 10:00 a.m. welcome. All participants will be required to sign a waiver stating that you are fit to use the course and understand the risks involved before using any of It’s My Park Day the high ropes elements. ROCKAWAY BEACH & BOARDWALK September 29 @ 11:30 a.m. If you are interested in learning more about the Adventure Course, call 311 and ask for the Urban Park Rangers or visit www.nyc.gov/parks. Annual Citywide Bocce Tournament Did you know? VARIOUS LOCATIONS September 29 & 30 @ 10:00 a.m. ...that Queens is leading the City with adventure sports opportunities? Fright Night In addition to the first public Adventure Course, Queens is also home BAISLEY POND PARK to the City’s only two surf beaches, the only cycling track, the second October 19 @ 5:00 p.m. mountain biking trail and two skate parks - a third is in design.

Fort On Haunted Hill - A Halloween Festival FORT TOTTEN PARK Current Events October 27 @ 12:00 p.m.

Korean Harvest and Folklore Festival FLUSHING MEADOWS PARK October 27 & 28 @ 10:00 a.m.

What’s going on in my park this weekend? How do I request a tree for my street? How can I report a problem in a park? Volunteers at Alley Pond Park during It’s My A local surfer catches a wave at the opening of Park! Day in May. The next volunteer day the City’s second surf beach at Beach 67-69th For answers to these questions and happens at sites all over Queens on October Streets at Rockaway Beach. more, visit www.nyc.gov/parks or 20. Plant a tree, repair benches or tend a Photo: Daniel Avila call 311. garden - it’s your park! Photo: Daniel Avila www.nyc.gov/parks 8