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BRONX TIMES REPORTER, APRIL 1-7, 2022 BXR
NYPD’s Saturday Night Lights
program kicks off in the Bronx
BY DEAN MOSES
Mayor Eric Adams and police
officials joined together in
the Bronx Saturday evening
to welcome the return of the
NYPD’s Saturday Night Lights
program.
Last year the NYPD partnered
with the Department of Youth
and Community Development
(DYCD), the City’s District Attorneys,
and community-based organizations
in order to renovate
and open 100 new gyms across the
city to provide free summer youth
sports programming on Saturday
nights.
On March 26 the Police Department
pledged to continue
that tradition this year. Mayor
Adams, Bronx Borough President
Vanessa Gibson and other
officials gathered at P.S./I.S. 224
located at 345 Brook Ave. in Mott
Haven to kick off the start of the
spring season.
What started as an endeavor to
open only one previously closed
gym on Saturday nights transformed
into an initiative that now
includes 106 gyms across New
York City.
“We have been so reactive
in engaging between police and
our young people this proactive
approach is just so important,”
Adams said, gathering the children,
officers and other members
together inside of P.S./I.S. 224’s
gymnasium.
Adams emphasized the
sheer importance of fostering
programs like Saturday Night
Lights, bridging the connection
between community and members
of the NYPD. He added that
the NYPD should be known for
more than just fighting crime,
many of the men and women
in blue go beyond their service
of public safety, and they work
within communities to try and
provide aid where needed. This
effort also looks to keep children
and teens off the streets and away
from harmful crime by keeping
them engaged in healthy programming.
The Saturday Night Lights
proceeded with elected officials
observing the youth play basketball
with officers and then showcase
a few martial arts routines.
From 5 to 9 p.m., youth ages 11
to 18 are invited to enjoy free indoor
sports activities including,
soccer, volleyball, karate, flag
football, dance, and more.
Youth and officers play a game of basketball at PS/IS 224. Photo | Adrian Childress
AUDITION for 6 to 10 year olds
Classes for 2022-2023 Winter Term begin in September. | Substantial scholarship program for students
with need. | Covid-19 vaccination not requried to audition. Visit sab.org for Covid-19 vaccination policy for
enrolled students. | *Students must be 6 by July 1, 2022 to audition.
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City
Council and Council Members Stephen Levin and Helen Rosenthal and by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Children are invited to audition for the worldrenowned
School of American Ballet as seen in
the Disney+ docuseries ON POINTE.
Optional pre-registration at
SAB.ORG/AUDITIONS
NO PREVIOUS TRAINING REQUIRED
Photos by Rosalie O’Connor
FREE IN THE BRONX
SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2022
2:30 p.m. (age 6*)
3:00 p.m. (ages 7-8)
3:30 p.m. (ages 9-10)
Bronx House
990 Pelham Pkwy S., 2nd Floor
Visit SAB.ORG for information about additional
audition dates and locations throughout NYC this
April.
/sab.org
/AUDITIONS
/SAB.ORG