The Upper West Side sports camp has added T-ball, flag football, and girls basketball to its summer lineup.
Riverside Park Conservancy Summer Sports Camp is a weekly all-day camp for children ages 4-16. The camp recently decided to add T-ball to provide more options for its younger campers. “Younger kids used to only have soccer and tennis as an option, now kids ages 4 and 5 can take part in a T-ball program,” says Ahmed Cohen, camp director.
As for flag football, the camp is determined to show that football is not only fun, but a safe sport to play as well. “We added flag football to address all the stigma that’s going around with tackle football and concussions,” Cohen says. “We wanted to show that football could be played in a safe manor. Hopefully that will lead to more trust with tackle football in the future.”
The camp has also recently added its only single-sex sport, girls basketball. “We really want to empower female participation and promote girls in sports,” Cohen says. A lot of the female population currently filters into tennis and soccer, but now girls have another option where hopefully they will feel more comfortable, says Cohen. The basketball program is for girls ages 8-14. The camp hopes to expand its all-girls programming with a volleyball class next summer.
Riverside Park Conservancy Summer Sports Camp uses the sports fields and courts in Riverside Park between 96th and 110th streets. All programs provide uniforms or T-shirts. All campers are provided with light snacks, but should bring their own lunches. Registration is currently open.
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Main image: Riverside Park Conservancy Summer Sports Camp offers tennis, soccer, baseball, basketball, flag football, and T-ball.
Courtesy Riverside Park Conservancy Summer Sports Camp
