Editor’s Note: To read more from our Ultimate Guide To Family Life In Lower Manhattan, click HERE!
As families have flocked to the tip of Manhattan, activities for kids have followed. Whether you’re seeking instrumental music instruction or a place to take swimming lessons, there’s something (and likely more than one thing) for children of all ages in this vibrant corner of the city. As a sampling, we’ve put the spotlight on five programs that offer something unique to families in Lower Manhattan.
Something For Everyone (Parents Too): Ask any Green Ivy Schools leader and they’ll tell you that they’re just as committed to providing an amazing curation of the city’s best enrichment offerings to their neighbors as they are to expanding education options for their students at Pine Street School in FiDi and Battery Park Montessori. “Part of our mission is to bring exceptional NYC partners and institutions from all over the five boroughs together under one roof for afterschool activities, summer camp, family events, and adult classes,” says Jen Henriquez, Green Ivy Schools’ enrichment director, of the 85,000-square-ft space at 25 Pine Street which opened last September. Program Highlight: On any given day, you’ll find a host of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics) programs and other enrichments for kids of all ages—offered either on a drop-in basis or as a series—from notable partners like Music Together, Chef Toni’s Cooking Adventures, RoboFun, and even the New York International Children’s Film Festival (which has stop-motion animation for tweens). Parents, meanwhile, can let loose at tango lesson nights—with on-site childcare provided! greenivyschools.com
Swimming in Fun: The arrival of Asphalt Green in Battery Park City two years ago signalled that downtown’s time had come, especially for families seeking AG’s signature instructional swim lessons, which begin at the age of 4 months, and fitness programs, including group classes, water exercise classes, and more. “We’re different from our uptown campus because we’re more neighborhood based,” says Bryan Beary, director of Asphalt Green’s Battery Park City campus. “While uptown attracts a wide range of users from all over the city, this campus includes more than 70 percent of members who join as a family.” Program Highlight: Summer camp is a big draw for local residents, and you don’t have to be a member for kids ages 4.5 to15 to attend camp here, Beary says. “The campers have access to our swimming pool, gym, and ball fields.” asphaltgreen.org/bpc
Dedicated to the Arts: The founders of the non-profit Church Street School for Music and Art have been teaching downtown kids since long before Tribeca became the chic family neighborhood it is today. After 25 years of focus on providing top-notch instrumental music instruction and art classes, co-founder and executive director Lisa Ecklund-Flores is as committed to the school’s original mission as the day the doors first opened on Warren Street. “What we do is support what we believe is the natural artistic capability of every human being,” she says. Program Highlight: Summer programs at Church Street are flexible—and there’s something for everyone. This includes toddler music and art classes; a preschool arts program and Creative Art Workshop; a six-week program for kids ages 5 to12 that includes drawing, sculpture, and painting; and museum and music experiences like piano and recorder lessons. churchstreetschool.org
Carving Out Community Space: For Sadia Brangan, a long-time FiDi resident and mom of three, having a relaxing space for new moms was something she wished she had access to when her kids were younger. Now as “mayor” of the Kidville on Gold Street, which opened last November, Brangan is on a mission to create a community space for young families in this ever-evolving neighborhood. Program Highlight: At this 4,100-square-ft space, you’ll find a preschool alternative. Other offerings include yoga, tennis, karate, and, in the fall, language classes, including Spanish, French, Italian, and Mandarin. “We have a lot of people from all over the world working in our neighborhood,” Brangan says. “We want to make sure their needs are met.” kidville.com/fidi
Afterschool Engagement: When Bob Townley, founder and executive director of Manhattan Youth, dreamed up the program 28 years ago, the goal was (and still is) to provide affordable recreational and childcare opportunities for families. Today, Manhattan Youth operates 15 afterschool programs, a plethora of classes at the Downtown Community Center, and several extracurricular programs on Pier 25 and
in Hudson River Park, all of which serve 2,000 to 3,000 kids daily. Program Highlight: During the Outdoor Adventure Summer Program in August, kids enjoy five days of outdoor fun led by Townley. manhattanyouth.org
