Groups partner up on summer programs in city
TROY, N.Y. » The Capital District YMCA and the Troy and Lansingburgh Boys & Girls Clubs are partnering with the city of Troy to offer a six-week youth summer youth program aimed at providing young people across the Collar City unique summer activities during July and August.
Patrick Doyle, Executive Director of the Troy Boys & Girls Club, said “Today is an important day for the Troy community,” said Troy Boys & Girls Club Executive director Patrick Doyle. “For the past few months we have been brainstorming ways to make an impact this summer. It was imperative to make it our mission to address the major needs that were being voiced by our community and we are excited that our community partners will fund three new youth programs for Troy.”
The 2017 Troy summer youth programs will be offered in three locations: Knickerbacker Park, Prospect Park, and the 112th Street Park from July 10 through Aug. 18.
“Summer programs are more than outlets for young people to stay occupied during the sum-
mer – they bridge the learning gap, support the development of essential social skills, provide access to arts, sports, nature, science and literacy, and encourage positive fitness habits,” Troy Mayor Patrick Madden said. “Providing positive summer activities for our young people is one of our community’s most important responsibilities, and with a full schedule of fun recreational opportunities, kids of all ages will have plenty of ways to enjoy their summer break, make new friends, and stay active through a
variety of new activities available to them, many for the first time.”
The six-week drop in programs offered at Knickerbacker and Prospect parks, provided by the Troy Boys & Girls Club and the Capital District YMCA, will be open to Troy youth on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Attendees will have an opportunity to participate in weekly recreational activities, including swimming lessons, sports, fishing, field trips and other youthfocused programming. Two daily meals, breakfast and lunch, will be served at all program locations, provided with the assistance of Rensselaer County. Weekly swimming programs will
be offered at the Troy Boys & Girls Club and the Troy YMCA.
The Lansingburgh Boys & Girls Club will also be offering expanded enrollment in their annual eightweek Summer program held at their facility in Lansingburgh. To learn more about summer youth opportunities at the Lansingburgh Boys & Girls Club, contact Treva Ryan at (518) 235-4143 or lbgc61@yahoo.com.
The city of Troy’s six spray pools – located at Corliss Park, Knickerbacker Park, Frear Park, Riverfront Park, Prospect Park, and South Troy – will be open and available for public use throughout the 2017 summer season following the
conclusion of the 2016-17 school year. An additional five spray pools will also be available at Troy Housing Authority locations across Troy, including the Fallon Apartments, Griswold Heights (Madison Avenue), Phelan Court, the John P. Taylor Apartments, and the MLK Apartments.
Michael Manupella, Executive Director of the Lansingburgh Boys & Girls Club, said “On our own, we do not have the financial resources to offer scholarships to kids who cannot afford our summer program,” Lansingburgh Boys & Girls Club Exeutive Director Michael Manupella said.
Shannon Romanowski, the district executive director
for the Troy branch of the Capital District YMCA, said the programs came to fruition because of the partnerships formed between the organizations and sponsors. “We are grateful for all of our community partners and those businesses and foundations that support youth development in the city of Troy,” she said.
Support and contributions for the summer program were provided CDPHP, E. Stewart Jones, Jr.
& Kimberly Sanger Jones, John Nigro & Nigro Companies, MVP Health Care, the Massry Family, SEFCU, Steve Bouchey & Bouchey Financial Group, the Troy Redevelopment Foundation (which includes Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, St. Peter’s Health Partners including Samaritan & St. Mary’s Hospitals and The Eddy, The Sage Colleges, and Emma Willard) and the Troy Savings Bank Charitable Foundation.