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MAYOR BOOKER LAUNCHES “ANOTHER GREAT SUMMER” IN NEWARK

Monday, 07 July 2008

MAYOR BOOKER LAUNCHES “ANOTHER GREAT SUMMER” IN NEWARK Recreation, health, culture, and education programs for residents of all ages  As Super Summer 2008 gets rolling at renovated St. Peter’s Recreation Center Newark, NJ - July 7, 2008 - Mayor Cory A. Booker was joined today by Newark Now Executive Director Modia Butler, representatives from the corporate and business communities, and Newark residents to launch the City of Newark’s Super Summer 2008, an initiative with a wide-ranging slate of activities and events designed to provide city residents with an educational, entertaining, and empowering summer. The theme for this year’s initiative is “Another Great Summer in Newark.” The event also marked the official re-opening of the newly-renovated St. Peter’s Recreation Center, which is located at 378 Lyons Avenue, and has been renamed in honor of nearby Beth Israel Hospital. “Last year’s Super Summer program was an outstanding success,” said Mayor Booker. “Thousands of Newark residents enjoyed wholesome entertainment and athletic and educational programs that helped build bodies and strengthen minds. This year’s Super Summer will build on that work and continue the transformation and revitalization of our beloved city.” Anchored by the Division of Recreation and Cultural Affairs’ summer activities, Super Summer is a continuation of Safe Summer, a program initiated by Mayor Booker and Newark Now in 2006 to provide safe havens for youth and safety zones for the community. Programs being offered include movie nights, sporting activities, arts and crafts, and computer classes. Adults can take part in similar programs, as well as nutrition and aerobics classes, and a slate of water health activities to combat arthritis has been made available for seniors. During the event, Mayor Booker and city officials handed out copies of the city’s new Super Summer 2008 Directory. A comprehensive municipal recreation guide, the directory includes a catalog of programs offered by the city’s partners, which include churches, non-profit and community organizations, colleges and schools, and health agencies. “Super Summer is more than summer fun,” Mr. Butler said. “It is an opportunity for residents to get involved in positive activities in their neighborhoods, and join with their neighbors in achieving meaningful and positive changes in the community. The residents of Newark have inspired, led, and defined Super Summer, and they are what make Super Summer great.” Renovation costs for St. Peter’s Recreation Center totaled $2.4 million, of which $1.5 million was funded by the City of Newark. Checks were presented at the ceremony by Reverend Eric Beckham of Clearview Baptist Church, which has donated $65,000 for the center’s playground equipment, as well as from the Lee Cooperman Family Foundation, which has contributed $1 million in funding for the city’s GreenSpaces. In addition to the festivities, the event also commemorated the city’s commitment to renovating its parks. Investment in Newark’s parks has yielded over $20 million of capital funds, which will be matched by private dollars to renovate eight parks throughout the city by the end of 2008. Former NFL star running-back Tiki Barber has also displayed his dedication to revitalizing Newark’s parks - his company, Tiki Recreation has partnered with GreenSpaces to ensure that the City of Newark has state-of-the-art playgrounds without having to incur state-of-the-art prices. Non-profit organizations such as Newark Now, La Casa de Don Pedro, the Newark Boys and Girls Club, and others aided with the cost of the Super Summer directory, which is available at every recreation center and various city agencies.  Super Summer 2008 was also made possible through the generous support of numerous individuals and organizations, including Pershing Square Foundation, Prudential Foundation, Nicholson Foundation, Aetna Foundation, H&B Martin Foundation, Norman and Bettina Roberts Foundation, Leland and Cathy Peyser, Claremount Construction, Siebert Brandford Shank & Co. L.L.C., Alamao Insurance Group, Summit Information Systems L.L.C., Michaels Development Company, Sims Metal Management and Newark Hospitality L.L.C.

 

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