April 15, 2020

Your semi-monthly Recreation activities information.

GREETINGS, We hope that you and your families are in good health and making the best of this unprecedented situation. As a reminder, the Parks and Recreation Office at Town Hall, both the Eastern and Western Civic Centers, the Dorothy Hamill Skating Rink, the Skatepark, and both the Cos Cob and William Yantorno Community Centers are closed. Many of our office staff are still available via email. Please feel free to contact us. Although we had to make the sad decision to cancel all spring recreation programs, we are still actively planning a host of summer activities. We are continuing with registration for summer programs as usual, with the hope that life will be more normal by then. Information on summer programs is found below. Please do your best to protect yourself and others by practicing social distancing.  Best Regards, Sue Snyder, Recreation Superintendent

Visit our Website

Parks & Recreation Department Wide News... Parks and Beaches Closed First Selectman Fred Camillo ordered ALL Town parks and beaches closed to the public. The closures will be effective until further notice. For the latest information from the First Selectman on the coronavirus, click here. The closure includes but is not limited to tennis courts, basketball courts, playgrounds, ball fields, school grounds, and open spaces. Additionally, the Griffith E. Harris Golf Course is closed. Bathrooms at all recreational facilities are closed. Please wash your hands and practice social distancing. Your health and the health of the Greenwich community depends on YOU!

Camp registration is now open online for our three summer day camps, Kamp Kairphree, Adventurers, and Music, Art & Dance Camp. REMEMBER current proofs of Greenwich residency must be provided and verified for 2020 prior to registering for camp or other recreation activities. Download our 2020 Summer Brochure, which also contains information on summer swim lessons, soccer clinics, and skatepark activities.

New Withdrawal Policy for Summer Camps Parks and Recreation does not issue refunds for a Recreation Division activity unless it has been cancelled. Registrants assume full responsibility for any changes in their personal life which may affect their ability to participate. Much time and effort goes into planning our summer day camps. Knowing an accurate headcount for our programs in advance is crucial for effective planning. Therefore, we will be enforcing the following policy beginning 2020 for those who wish to withdraw from Kamp Kairphree, Adventurers, or Music, Art & Dance Camp: ·          Written withdrawal request prior to June 1, 2020 will be provided a full credit (100%) for the fee paid, less a $15.00 administrative fee. ·          Written withdrawal request June 1, 2020 or after, but prior to the first day of the camp section, will be provided only half credit (50%) for the fee paid and less a $15.00 administrative fee. ·          Written withdrawal request June 1, 2020 or after, and after the camp section has begun, will be provided half credit (50%) for the fee paid, also pro-rated based on the remaining time in the section, and less a $15.00 administrative fee.  Any credit for withdrawal from day camp will be placed in the household account and may be used by anyone in the immediate household. The credit may be used towards Recreation activities or facility reservation within the Recreation Division and will be good for one year from date of issue. If you have any questions concerning this policy, please contact the Recreation Division administration prior to registering for day camp.

Kamp Kairphree Kamp Kairphree is a co-ed day camp for ages 5-12. It operates Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m. out of the Eastern Greenwich Civic Center. There are four two-week sessions. The camp rotates between EGCC and Greenwich Point. Campers go to Island Beach on Wednesdays. Music, Art & Dance Camp Music, Art & Dance Camp offers morning music sections, morning and afternoon art sections, and an afternoon dance section. Afternoon art and dance are only open to those enrolled in a morning section of music or art. The camp operates for five weeks at Greenwich High School. Adventurers Camp Adventurers is a co-ed day camp for ages 8-15. It operates Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. out of the Bendheim Western Greenwich Civic Center. There are two sessions, totaling seven weeks. The camp offers one special field trip per week and local beach days. On a trial basis for the 2020 season, the Town of Greenwich Parks & Recreation is working with ePACT to securely collect participant health information and emergency contact details electronically for those who register for Adventurers Camp. ePACT replaces paper forms, making it easier for you to share critical information with us, and ensuring you can update information at any time. Learn more.

Summer Activities Summer Baseball provides 3 playing divisions. The Pinto division for ages 6 & 7 and the Mustang division for ages 8 & 9 are co-ed. The Bronco division is for boys ages 10-12. Registration opens online May 4. Information is available for Summer Ramp Camps and Clinics. Registration begins April 1 for summer. The Greenwich Skatepark located at the foot of Arch Street is currently closed. Tennis Clinic Instruction for youth and adults begins in late spring, during the first week of June. Registration opens online April 1. Additional information on tennis can be found on our website. Town tennis courts are currently closed. Information will be coming soon for summer pickleball!

Information is now available for Summer Swim Lessons. We are offering group lessons, private and semi-private lessons at the Town Pool in Byram Park. Online registration is available now for group lessons. Registration for private and semi-private lessons begins June 15.

Greenwich Seniors The Greenwich Senior Center is currently closed. Their April Newsletter can be found on the Town website, along with other valuable information from the Commission on Aging.

Recreation Job Opportunities  The Town is accepting applications for some summer job positions. Download information on Summer Seasonal Positions and Fall, Winter, & Spring Seasonal Positions. Apply for jobs online here. Employment opportunities for the Marine & Facility Operations Division are also posted. Job titles are listed alphabetically on the website.

Cos Cob Community Preschool Registration for the 2020-2021 Cos Cob Community Preschool school year is on-going. Remember to have your current proofs of residency updated in our system. Classes are held Monday-Friday, and operate from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at 54 Bible Street in Cos Cob. The Preschool is licensed by the State of CT and is reasonably priced. For information, send an email.

The Parks and Recreation Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to income eligible resident families for participation in youth activities. Scholarship applications must be submitted a minimum of 3 weeks prior to the start of the program.

Stay Home, Be Counted Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo is urging residents to use this moment of self-quarantine/social distancing to complete the 2020 Census. For the complete press release on the Greenwich Census update, click here.

Greenwich Recreation Spring Program Cancellations Spring Swim Activity # 10702 and # 107021, all sections Co-ed T-ball Activity # 10405, sections 1 and 2 Small Fry I Baseball Activity # 10405, section 3 Small Fry II Baseball Activity # 10401 Junior Baseball Activity # 10402 Girls Softball Junior Division Activity # 105011 Girls Softball Babe Ruth Activity # 10501 Spring Fever Skate Jam Activity # 20206 (no fee) Spring Skateboard Clinics Activity # 11302, sections 25 and 26 Mighty Mites Soccer Activity # 10302 Soccer Extreme (fee paid to Soccer Extreme) Indoor Pickleball at EGCC Activity # 11203 Pickleball Outdoor Clinic Activity # 11205 Outdoor Pickleball Activity # 11207 Kite Flying Festival Special Event Cancellations or Postponements Below is a list of special events run by private organizations that have been cancelled or postponed. India Cultural Center of Greenwich Holi Festival - cancel Greenwich Half Marathon - postpone North Mianus PTA Carnival - postpone K of C Flea Market - cancel YMCA Gala Fundraiser - postpone Riverside Elementary Run - cancel OGRCC Bike Ride - cancel Cos Cob PTA Fundraiser - cancel Breast Cancer Allliance Run - cancel Greenwich Town Party - postpone Concours D’Elegance and Bonhams Auction – cancel CT Veterans Legal Center Bike Ride - cancel Shellfish Commission Experience the Sound – cancel GEMS Kids Triathlon – cancel ALS Tri State Trek - cancel

Withdrawal Policy for Recreation Activities Other Than Day Camps Credit requests for recreation program registration will be considered if received in writing prior to the start of the program. There is a $15.00 administrative fee for credits. The general policy of the Recreation Division is that we do not process refunds unless a program has been cancelled. Please read all registration information carefully and contact us prior to registering if you have any questions.

Parks and Recreation Foundation  The Greenwich Parks and Recreation Foundation was set up to receive donations, allowing the community citizens and businesses an avenue to donate to the Town of Greenwich Parks & Recreation projects and programs. The foundation is a 509 (a)(1). Through the Parks & Recreation Foundation, one is able to donate to the Parks and Recreation Scholarship Fund.

Weather Cancellation Information  Please make note of the Recreation Division's weather cancellation hotline phone # 203-861-6100. Information regarding cancellations and closures is also posted on our Recreation Sports Website, where you can also sign up to get text alerts and /or emails notifying you of changes. The hotline phone # is updated before the website.

Non-Discrimination and Event Accessibility The Town complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding non-discrimination, equal opportunity, affirmative action, and providing reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. If you require an accommodation to participate, please contact the Director of Human Services at 203-622-3800 or Alan.Barry@GreenwichCT.org as soon as possible or at least 10 days in advance of the event. It is the Town of Greenwich’s policy to provide full, equal and nondiscriminatory access to its park facilities, beaches and recreation areas in accordance with applicable state and federal laws. The Town’s park facilities, beaches and recreation areas are open to all Town residents and other members of the general public admitted thereto in accordance with, and subject to, applicable state and federal laws, and ordinances, and regulations promulgated by the Director of Parks and Recreation and the Selectmen. It is the policy of the Town of Greenwich that all Town ordinances, regulations, policies and rules with respect to the Town’s park facilities, beaches and recreation areas are applied consistently without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, lawful source of income, mental retardation, mental disability or physical disability, including but not limited to blindness or deafness or any other legally protected classification.

Greenwich Parks & Recreation | Recreation Division | 203-618-7649 | Recreation@greenwichct.org