Celebrating It's My Park Day and Red Hook Little Legague Opening Day

The New York Juvenile Justice Corps and our John Jay College of Criminal Justice partners joined the Brownsville Community Justice Center in celebrating “It’s My Park Day” on May 3^rd, 2013 in Betsy Head Park in Brownsville Brooklyn. New Yorkers across the five boroughs gathered to beautify their local green spaces and parks in celebration of “It’s My Park Day.” 

AmeriCorps members alongside members from the Brownsville Justice Community spent the afternoon scrapping and repainting a large retaining wall on the perimeter of the park. Visitors to the park are no longer greeted by a wall of peeling paint but a bright newly painted wall. Volunteers also worked in the garden weeding, removing debris, and laying wood chips. Members conducted park audits at several other local Brownsville Parks, assessing parks’ level of activity, quality, safety, signage, and aesthetics.





 

John Jay members working in the garden

JJC members scrapped and repainted a large retaining wall

JJC members after providing a fresh coat of paint

JJC members, John Jay members, and Brownsville Justice Community members after an afternoon of beautifying Betsy Head Park

 

The 16^th Annual Red Hook little league baseball season kicked off Saturday May 4^th, 2013. Opening Day commenced with Red Hook youth in their bright new uniforms bursting with energy to play. The opening balls were thrown by Councilwoman Sara Gonzalez, Honorable Judge Alex Calabrese of the Red Hook Community Justice Center, Captain Jeffery Schiff of the 76^th Precinct, and Jessica Colon Deputy Director of the Red Hook Community Justice Center. 

AmeriCorps members helped to found the League and continue to support every aspect of the league through their service coaching, recruiting, or distributing uniforms. Hyne’s Heroes and The Defenders quickly got to the business of playing ball. JJC members along with family and friends were happy to cheer on the players at their first game! 

Red Hook Little League 16th Annual Opening Day Hynes Heroes Vs The Defenders

Before thorowing out the Opeining Ball Honorable Judge Alex Calabrese of the Red Hook Community Justice Center
Council Woman Sara Gonzalez, Captain Jeffery Schiff of the 76^th Precinct


 

Let's Play Ball!!



JJC memebers cheering on the players