WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO DO
Local newspapers are the best source for each week's entertainment activities in Rockland. Watch the Journal News on Thursdays and Fridays. Encourage young people to look over posters put up in libraries, supermarkets, and other busy places. The Council of the Arts puts out a bi-monthly calendar of events.
Towns and villages have recreational programs. Call and ask for current brochures listing programs in your area. Advocate for youth if you believe different programs are called for.
TOWN OF CLARKSTOWN 639-2080
10 Maple Ave., New City 10956
Director: Ed Ghiazza
Summer day camp program with fees. See brochure for other diversified activities.
TOWN OF HAVERSTRAW 429-2200
1 Rosman Rd., Garnerville 10923
Contact: Robert Heltzer
Free summer day camp, ages 6-12.
TOWN OF ORANGETOWN 359-5100
1 Greenbush Rd., Orangeburg 10962
Contact: Joseph Hince
Summer day camp, ages 5-13, with fees. Free supervised play at several elementary schools. After-school and week-end programs. See brochure for exact information.
TOWN OF RAMAPO 357-6100
Dept. of Parks & Recreation
Clark Recreation Center, 59 Campbell Ave., Suffern 10901
Director: Ed Lockwood
For information on program nights and Sundays (including teen centers): Contact: Recreation Manager, Neil Marrin 357-6102
Free supervised play at 10 school sites during summer. K-6th grade. "Create and Explore" for 3rd-12th grades. Brochure available which lists additional programs.
TOWN OF STONY POINT 786-2716
74 E. Main St., Stony Point 10980
Contact: Town Clerk
Free summer day camp. Friday night ice skating at Bear Mountain in winter.
VILLAGE OF HILLBURN 357-2036
31 Mountain Ave., Hillburn 10931
Contact: Village Clerk
Summer swim program. Registration $5.
VILLAGE OF HAVERSTRAW 429-0300
25 Fairmount Ave., Haverstraw 10927
Contact: Village Clerk
Free summer day camp, ages 8-14.
VILLAGE OF GRANDVIEW
Piermont Ave., Grandview-on-Hudson
Grandview has no recreational program of its own; residents can participate in Piermont program; Grandview makes contribution to Piermont's recreation budget.
VILLAGE OF PIERMONT 359-1258
Piermont Ave., Piermont 10968
Contact: Trustee Pauline Levin
Free summer day camp, ages 6-13, year-round teen program.
VILLAGE OF NEW SQUARE 354-5778
766 N. Main St., New Square 10977
Contact: Joseph Biston
Free summer day camp, ages 4-14
VILLAGE OF NYACK 358-5583
12 N. Broadway, Nyack 10960
Contact: Patti Murray-Smith
Year-round program, summer day camp.
VILLAGE OF POMONA 354-0545
Camp Hill Rd., Pomona 10970
Contact: Village Clerk
Call for upcoming activities.
VILLAGE OF SLOATSBURG 753-2727
96 Orange Turnpike, Sloatsburg 10974
Contact: Tom Bolatto, Jr.
All-year unified program; diversified recreational programs. Call for Youth Bulletin.
VILLAGE OF SOUTH NYACK 358-0287
282 S. Broadway, S. Nyack 10960
Summer recreation program month of July, ages 4-16.
VILLAGE OF SPRING VALLEY 352-1100
8 Maple Ave., Spring Valley 10977
Contact: Louis Kliewe
Winter: Open recreation program at SVHS: T and Th, 7-9 pm from Oct. to May; Sat. 1-4 pm, Dec.- Mar. Summer: Memorial Park - Open recreation M-Th, 6:30-9:30 pm; swim instruction 10am-12 noon, M-F and recreation swim 12 noon-6:30 pm. SVHS tennis, basketball leagues, weight training, touch football, 7-10 pm.
VILLAGE OF SUFFERN 357-2600
61 Washington Ave., Suffern 10901
Contact: Gail Curtin
Year-round recreation geared to special programs. Pool and swim lessons in summer. Call for information.
VILLAGE OF UPPER NYACK 358-0084
Upper Nyack does not run any recreational programs of its own. Residents are eligible to use Clarkstown and/or Nyack programs.
VILLAGE OF NEW HEMPSTEAD 354-8100
8 Old Schoolhouse Rd., New City 10956
Contact: Carol Vazquez
No recreational program of their own; residents may participate in Ramapo programs.
VILLAGE OF WESLEY HILLS 354-0400
354 Rt. 306, Wesley Hills 10952
Contact: Dorothy France
No recreational program of their own; residents can participate in Ramapo programs.
VILLAGE OF W. HAVERSTRAW 947-2800
15 Bridge St., Garnerville 10923
Contact: Fred Miller
Free summer day camp, ages 7-14.
VILLAGE OF CHESTNUT RIDGE 425-2805
277 Old Nyack Turnpike, Chestnut Ridge 10977
Contact: Harriet Slater
No recreational program of their own, residents may participate in Ramapo programs.
VILLAGE OF MONTEBELLO 368-2211
1 Montebello Rd., Suffern 10901
Contact: Joan Colonello
No recreational program of their own, residents may participate in Ramapo programs.
COMMUNITY ARTS TRAINING SERVICES FOR YOUTH (RCC/CATSY) 942-0624
15 W. Broad St., Haverstraw 10927
Director: Patricia Maloney-Titland
Free after-school and weekend program (for ages 5-17) of music, drama, arts and crafts, dance and puppeteering, etc. M-Th, 3-6 pm.
CULTURAL ARTS AND PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE PROJECT (RCC/CAPE) 942-0624
15 W. Broad St., Haverstraw 10927
Contact: Patricia Maloney-Titland
Workshops, field trips and community projects where teens explore cultural roots and the arts under guidance of local artisans. M-Th, 3-6 pm.
NANUET: CASTLE & JUNIOR TEENAGE PROGRAM (sponsored by Clarkstown Parks Board and Recreation Commission and Nanuet Public Schools)
Friday and Saturday night program at Nanuet HS, no fee, grades 7-12.
Central Nyack Community Center, 58 Waldron Ave. 358-2500
Congers Community Center, Gilchrest Rd. 268-9700
Street School Community Center 634-3039 (sponsored by Clarkstown Recreation.)
31 Zukor Rd., New City 10956
Friday and Saturday night open gym at Tappan Zee HS (sponsored by Orangetown Recreation Dept.)
Friday night open gym at Felix Festa JHS (sponsored by Clarkstown Recreation Dept.)
Friday night ice skating at Bear Mountain (sponsored by Stony Point Recreation Dept.)
YOUTH ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE (YAC) 352-9566
TIGER'S DEN TEEN CENTER
95-96 N. Main St., Spring Valley 10977
Contact: Charlene Weaver, James Pinkston
Free place for young people to meet which offers recreational, tutorial, counseling, job preparation services.
MARTIN LUTHER KING CENTER (MLK) 425-8910
26 N. Bethune Blvd., Spring Valley 10977
Director: Stella Marrs
Multipurpose Center which offers recreational, tutorial, counseling, cultural, health-related services to all ages.
Churches and Synogogues often have scheduled youth activities. Call individual churches.
ROCKLAND COUNTY COUNCIL 786-2771
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA 786-2772
15 Frank Rd., P.O. Box 686, Stony Point 10980
Contact: Harold Jackson
Service and training center.
Local neighborhood clubs and Explorer scouts program emphasize physical, mental and emotional fitness.
ROCKLAND COUNTY GIRL SCOUT COUNCIL 638-0438
211 Red Hill Rd., New City 10956
Local neighborhood clubs emphasize activities which develop skill, stimulate self-discovery, and promote citizenship.
ROCKLAND COUNTY YMCA (Nyack) 358-0245
35 S. Broadway, Nyack 10960
Contact: Carolyn Newman, Program Director
Offers nursery school, pre-school program, after-school day care (small children), free after-school "School's Out" program (recreation). Also pool, gym, exercise equipment, and summer day camp (fees).
ROCKLAND COUNTY YMCA (Suffern) 357-4404
91 Washington Ave., Suffern 10901
Contact: Madeline Stella
Offers diversified activities, including nersery school and after-school program.
CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION 429-7085
Rockland County 4H
East Kirkbride Rd., P.O. Box 1000, Thiells 10984
Contact: Phyllis Morena
Educational after-school program of fun activities for youngsters 7-19, years through community clubs, family programs and special interest activities.
Organized junior sports (Little League, Babe Ruth League, Midget Football, softball, jr. & sr. soccer, boxing) exist in most communities where volunteers are available. Some programs are open to all comers; others have try-outs.
Sources of information: Recreation departments, juvenile aid bureaus, school notices, local newspaper articles.
There are sports camps, day and sleep-away, for youngsters with a strong sports interest. Some scholarships are available. Contact: School athletic directors.
RCC SUMMER SPORTS ACADEMY 356-4650 x470
145 College Rd., Suffern 10901
Contact: Emil Willis
RCC indoor and outdoor facilities are utilized in a summer instructional program to improve individual sport skills. Campers must have own insurance. Fee.
RCC FAMILY RECREATIONAL SERVICES 356-4650 x470
145 College Rd., Suffern 10901
Contact: Emi Willis
Pool, sauna, weight room, racquetball, jogging, basketball, etc. available every day for limited hours. Family and individual memberships, daily guest fees.
RC POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE (P.A.L.) 634-1779
P.O. Box 259, New City 10956
Contact: Steve Fedor
Eleven centers in RC where volunteers work with youngsters and supervise activities, including basketball and boxing tournaments, cross country, team handball and field trips to professional sports activities.
National organizations sometimes have a special area of support (e.g., Lions' sight programs, Knights of Columbus' programs for the mentally retarded), and/or local chapters sometimes have their own favorite programs.
American Legion: citizenship, Little Leagues, Scouts, marching bands
Elks Clubs: Scouts, Little Leagues, Special Olympics, field trips
Kiwanis: scholarships, field trips
Knights of Columbus: programs for the retarded
Lions Clubs: sight conservation programs
Jaycees or Jayncees: special local youth activities, bike safety
Police Benevolent Association (PBA): bike safety, explorer program
Rotaries: interact youth clubs
Youth Squads of Ambulance Corps: (call individual ambulance corps to see if they have
youth groups)
Jr. Fire Fighters: (check with local firehouses)
THE NATURE PLACE 469-5783
RD 2, Box 73, Sugar Loaf Mountain Rd., Chester, NY 10918
Contact: Ed Bieber
Natural exploration nature classes, all-day hikes. Spring Valley Summer day camp, etc. Fees.
ROCKLAND CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC 356-1522
185 N. Main St., Spring Valley 10977
Director: Elsa Jean Davidson
Non-profit community music school offering instruction in voice, recorder, guitar and orchestral instruments after-school and weekends. Fees (some scholarships for talented and/or disadvantaged.)
Rockland County (1,937 acres) All are primarily hiking trails and scenic areas.
Buttermilk Falls (72) Off Greenbush Rd., W. Nyack
Clausland Mountain (513) Clausland Mtn. Rd., Blauvelt
Dutch Gardens (3) Back of County Office Bldg., New City
Kakiat (353) Rt. 202 near Viola Rd., Suffern
Monsey Glen (24) Saddle River Rd., Rt. 59. Monsey
Mt. Ivy (270) off Fireman's Memorial Drive, Pomona
Mountainview Nature (73) Mountainview Ave., Nyack
Robert F. Kennedy (177) off Phillips Hill Rd. and N. Main St., New City
South Mountain (273) off Central Hwy. Haverstraw
Dater Mountain Preserve (155) Acquired 1981, undeveloped, accessible only through Kakiat Trail System
Gurnee Park & Amphitheater (14) Acquired 1981, undeveloped, off Rt. 45 immediately east of trailer camp near Rt. 202.
Lillian G. & Frank J. Schwartz Memorial Park (10) off Monsey Heights Rd., Monsey, undeveloped.
Palisades Interstate Park System (29,958 acres)
Bear Mountain Access from Rt. 9W, Palisades Pkwy. & Seven Lakes Pkwy. Also Trailside Museum and zoo.
Lake Welch Exit 13 or 14 on Palisades Pkwy. to Rt. 210. Also camping and snowmobiling.
Lake Sebago Off Seven Lakes or Lake Welch Pkwys.
Lake Tiorati Exit 14A on Palisades to Tiorati Brook or Rt. 17 to Seven Lakes Dr.
Anthony Wayne Off Palisades Pkwy.
Tallman Mountain Off 9W, Palisades (no fishing)
Rockland Lake North & South Off Rt. 9W, Congers. Also golf, tennis, nature center.
Blauvelt (590) Off Highland Ave., Bradley Hill Rd., Greenbush Rd., (hiking)
Haverstraw Beach (73) Along Hudson (hiking, and bicycle path)
High Tor (565) Off Rt. 202 & Central Hwy. and off S. Mountain Rd., New City (hiking, swimming and picnicking)
Hook Mountain (676) Off Rt. 9W, Nyack (hiking, picnicking, and biking)
Nyack Beach (61) Off 9W, access from N. Broadway in Upper Nyack (fishing, hiking, ski trails, ball fields, no swimming)
Palisades (20) Along the Hudson River (hiking, no swimming)
Stony Point Battlefield (87) Off 9W, Stony Point (historic site and exhibits, hiking and picnicking)
Town and Village Parks. Too many to list here. Call town or village offices for location and
what's available in them.
SWIMMING (in RC)
HIKING. Information on trails from Bear Mountain Administration Headquarters (786-2701) or Rockland County Cooperative Extension (429-7085).
CAMPING. Lake Welch, Lake Sebago and Lake Tiorati in Bear Mtn. Park.
Biking: Hudson River bike route between Rockland Lake and Nyack, Rockland County Bicycle Club (634-7595) or watch local newspaper): weekly bike trips.
Roller Skating: Montvale Roller Rink, Chestnut Ridge Rd. (201 391-9068).
Tennis: Courts at Rockland Lake, Tallman Mtn. Park, many town and village parks, schools.
Ice Skating: (Weather permitting) Bear Mtn., near Inn (Nov.-March), Rockland Lake, Sparkill Skating Rink, Orchard Hill (Spring Valley), Willow Tree (Wesley Hills), Suffern Memorial, Squire's Gate (Suffern), Hillburn Memorial, Congers Lake, Lake Nanuet, Kings Park (Congers), Twin Ponds (Valley Cottage), Tappan Memorial Park, Cherry Brook Park in Pearl River and Independence Park in Orangeburg.
X-Country Skiing: Anthony Wayne Area: 20 miles of interconnected trails for novice and intermediate; Silvermine: 2-mile, novice; Pine Meadow: 6 miles; Rockland Lake: 4 miles, intermediate. Call or write Palisades Park Commission for details (786-2701).
Snowmobiling: Permitted on Lake Welch Pkwy., weather permitting. (13.5-mile trail begins at Lake Welch parking lot. Accessible only from Rt. 210 (947-2444).
Sleigh-riding: North Rockland near Bear Mtn. (786-2701). Blue Hill Golf Course, Orangeburg.
Boating: Bear Mtn. Park, Harriman: Hessian Lake, near Inn (paddle boats and row boats), Lake Tiorati; Lake Sebago; Lake Welch; Rockland Lake.
Golf: Rockland Country Club, Orangetown (18 holes), private; Dellwood Country Club, Clarkstown (18 holes), private; Rockland Lake State Park, Clarkstown (36 holes), public; Blue Hill Golf Course, Orangetown (18 holes), public; Spook Rock Golf Course, Ramapo (18 holes), public.
Folkdancing: Rockland Folkdancers every Mon. 8:15 pm; YM-YWHA, 240 W. Nyack Rd., West Nyack. Also special programs - call A. Orinstein 357-5040. Ballroom Dancing instruction, Mon. 7 pm at the YM-YWHA.
Square Dancing: at Bear Mtn. Park (near the Inn) every Tues. night, July - August.
Art: (Information, exhibitions, classes, etc.) Arts Council of Rockland, 22 S. Madison Ave., Spring Valley 10977 (426-3660). Rockland Center for the Arts, 27-29 S. Greenbush Rd., W. Nyack (358-0877); Hopper House Art Center, 82 N. Broadway, Nyack (358-0774).
Besides having books, magazines and records, libraries have special programs and are a source of all kinds of information. Announcements are posted in libraries. If someone is looking for some particular information, the library will help locate it through the "library's library," the Ramapo Catskill Library System or their other information sources.
Blauvelt Free Library 86 S. Western Hwy 359-2811
Finkelstein Memorial Library, S. Madison Ave., & Rt. 59, Spring Valley 352-5700
Kings Daughters Public Library, Main St., Haverstraw 429-3445
Kings Daughters Public Library, (Theills Branch) 1 Rosman Rd., Garnerville 786-3800
Nanuet Public Library, 149 Church St., Nanuet 623-4281
New City Library, 220 N. Main St., New City 634-4997
Nyack Library, S. Broadway, Nyack 358-3370
Orangeburg Library, Old Greenbush Rd., Orangeburg 359-2244
Palisades Free Library, Oak Tree Rd., Palisades 359-0136
Pearl River Public Library, 80 Franklin Ave., Pearl River 735-4084
Piermont Public Library, 153 Hudson Terrace, Piermont 359-4595
Sloatsburg Public Library, Liberty Rock Rd., Sloatsburg 753-2001
Rose Memorial Library, E. Main St. & Lee Ave., Stony Point 786-2100
Suffern Free Library, Washington & Maple Aves., Suffern 357-1237
Tappan Library, 93 Main St., Tappan 359-3877
Tompkins Cove Public Library, Rt. 9W, Tomkins Cove 786-3060
Valley Cottage Free Library, Rt. 303, Valley Cottage 268-7700
West Nyack Free Library, 65 Strawtown Rd., W. Nyack 358-6081
Dominican College of Blauvelt, 10 Western Hwy., Orangeburg 10962 359-8188
Nyack College, Nyack 10960 358-1710, x270, x271
Rockland Community College, Library Media Center, Suffern 10901 356-4650, x409
St. Thomas Aquinas College, Rt. 340, Sparkill 10976 359-9500, x245