February 28, 2023
Your semi-monthly Recreation activities information.
WE MAKE YOUR FREE TIME, FUN TIME!
GREETINGS,

Welcome to March! The Greenwich St. Patrick's Day Parade will be Sunday, March 19. Online registration continues for many spring activities and the 2023-2024 Cos Cob Community Preschool. Registration for summer day camps and other activities will open on April 1. Please upload documents for residency verification prior to attempting to register for any activities or reserving a facility. For more details, visit www.greenwichct.gov/residency. If your children participate in youth sports, the National Alliance for Youth Sports has helpful resources for you. The Dorothy Hamill Skating Rink will only be open for a few more weeks; get your skating in while you can! More details on these and other community programs, such as a safe boating course and community garden plots are found below.

Many employment opportunities for spring and summer recreation positions are now posted. Positions include: Youth Track Director, Head Swim Instructor and Swim Instructor, Soccer Instructors, Tennis Director and Instructors, Umpires for Youth Softball, Camp Counselors and Directors, and Skatepark Instructor/Guards, to name a few. You must apply online.

Except for Town holidays, the Parks and Recreation Office at Town Hall is open to the public weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. We encourage you to make an appointment between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Most business can be done online. Office staff are available by email; feel free to contact us.

Best regards,
Sue Snyder, Recreation Superintendent
Kite Flying Festival

Bring your kite to Greenwich Point on Saturday, April 15 for the 2023 Kite Flying Festival, held in cooperation with the Greenwich Arts Council.
Snow Sculpture Contest
Extended through March 17
Greenwich Recreation and the Greenwich Arts Council present the 11th Annual Snow Sculpture Contest. Create your best snow sculpture, with whatever snow you can find, and submit a photo for a chance to win a prize from Greenwich Parks and Recreation! Learn how to enter here. The contest is only open to Greenwich residents and entries are due March 17.
National Alliance for Youth Sports
Greenwich Parks and Recreation is passionate about the healthy and safe participation of children in youth sports. As such, we are a member of the National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS). NAYS has so much helpful information, training, and resources for coaches and parents. You can begin by taking the Sports Parent Pledge to keep youth sports POSITIVE!. If you would like access to additional resources, such as coaching and sport specific training, injury prevention, parent training, concussions, bullying prevention, and more, contact Recreation Superintendent, Sue Snyder .
Sponsors Make a Difference!
Not only does sponsorship financially assist the programs of Greenwich Recreation which in turn may improve the experience for the Greenwich community; sponsorship promotes your business in several ways. Click here for benefits included with sponsorship.
If you wish to sponsor a spring youth sports team click here.
Spring Skateboard Clinics
The Greenwich Skatepark will open mid to late March, depending on weather conditions. Children ages 6 to 12 years old may participate in Spring Skateboard Clinics. Clinics will help young skaters learn park etiquette and basic techniques such as drop-ins and ollies in a safe and fun atmosphere. Clinics will be held on Thursdays during the month of May. The Tuesday clinic, Section 26, is full.
Preview to Summer

Registration for our summer programs, including day camps, will open on April 1. Here is a preview of our 2023 Summer Camps and Programs. In addition, save the dates for other programs, such as the Jim Fixx Memorial Day Races on Monday, May 29 and Fireworks on Saturday, July 1. Our summer concerts at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park will be held on Wednesday evenings in July and August. View the Summer Concert Series selection.
Youth T-ball and Baseball
We have several T-ball and baseball programs for youth this spring. Youth ages 4 and 5 by April 30, 2023 may participate in Co-ed T-ball. Co-ed T-ball and Small Fry I are held at Barradas Field only on Saturdays. Youth 6 years old may participate in Small Fry I Baseball; whereas, Small Fry II Baseball is for youth 7 years old by April 30. Small Fry II and Junior Baseball are held at various Town fields. Ages 8 and 9 may play in instructional Junior Baseball.
Girls Softball
We have a few divisions of softball for girls this spring. Girls ages 7 and 8 may participate in the Softball Junior Division which will teach the fundamentals of the game. Softball Intermediate and Senior Divisions serves ages 9 through 14. The Intermediate softball division, Section A2, is full. The Senior division is designed for girls with prior experience, ages 12 through 14 and 11 year-olds in middle school.
Youth Soccer
Spring Soccer is a fun clinic-style program geared for all skill and ability levels for children ages 3 through 9. The program will focus on the fundamentals of soccer, including passing, dribbling, trapping, and shooting through skill work and age-appropriate modified games. The program lasts 45 minutes for ages 3 and 4. Ages 5 through 9 play for one hour. All sections are held on Saturdays at Benvenuto Field in Cos Cob Park. Section A5 is full.
Cos Cob Community Preschool
Registration continues online for the 2023-2024 Cos Cob Community Preschool which is held at the community center on Bible Street. The Preschool, licensed by the State of CT, is for children ages 3 and 4. Classes are held Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. - 12 noon and families may register for 3, 4, or 5 days per week. A $50 per day of week deposit is due at the time of registration. Visit our website or download the Preschool brochure for more information. Children must be toilet trained.
Adult Pickleball

We have several opportunities for pickleball this spring. Outdoor Pickleball will be held for different levels of play, several days per week. All Intermediate Level sections plus Monday and Thursday Advanced sections are full. This is not a beginner program. Please register for the appropriate level. You may not register for more than two days/sections and you may not register for more than one level of play.

Drop-in Pickleball will be held at BWGCC for different levels of play on different days and times. There is a limit of players, first come, first served.
Youth Scholarships
If you need financial assistance for your child to participate in a Recreation activity, we can help. Greenwich Parks and Recreation has established a youth scholarship program which provides financial assistance to qualifying residents. For more information on eligibility and how to apply, visit our website page Youth Scholarships.
Bendheim Western Greenwich Civic Center
449 Pemberwick Road, Greenwich

Winter Drop-in Pickleball for residents only will run though March 2023. Different levels of play are held on separate days. Please make sure you only attend the level of play which is suited to your skills. Drop-in Co-ed Volleyball for adults is held on Mondays over the winter through March 27. Spring Drop-in Volleyball will resume April 3 through June 5. Other adult activities taking place at BWGCC include Get-Fit Glenville Boot Camp, Zumba Fitness, and WGCC Weight Club.

Baby and youth programs happening at BWGCC this winter include: Boomslang Girls Basketball; Greenwich Stars Basketball; Look Who's Talking language exposure classes: Just Wee Two; Jumpin' Jams Music; The Dance Pointe classes; and Jack Rabbits Gymnastics.

Open gym time is available according to specific rules. Visit the open gym schedule for the current month. For additional information about facility programs and rental information, read our brochure.
Dorothy Hamill Skating Rink
Sue Merz Way
The Rink is open through March 18, 2023. Public sessions are held daily; download the Public Session Schedule. On certain dates, the rink offers Stick and Puck Sessions. For more detailed information on rink policies, programs, and fees, check out the 2022-2023 Rink Brochure. Private organizations can rent available ice time; email Recreation Supervisor Rich Ernye.
Greenwich Community Gardens
Greenwich Community Garden Plot Sign-up Days will be Saturday, March 4 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday, March 5 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Anyone interested in gardening at Armstrong Court or Bible Street, please come to the Cos Cob Firehouse, 2nd floor, at 200 East Putnam Ave., Cos Cob, to reserve your garden plot for 2023. Gardeners must use non-GMO organic seeds and seedlings. The Bible Street garden features 12 tabletop-height “Universal Access” plots for gardeners with limited mobility.
For more information, visit the website www.greenwichcommunitygardens.org call 203-340-0327, or email info@greenwichcommunitygardens.org
Safe Boating Course
In conjunction with Greenwich Marine Police, America's Boating Club is giving a safe boating course on Saturday, March 11 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. at Greenwich Police HQ, 11 Bruce Place. The fee is $90 per person. For more information, email GreenwichSquadron@gmail.com or call Susan Ryan at 203-998-1864.
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 administrative fee per section 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. Should someone withdraw from a program after it has begun, the credit will be pro-rated based on the time remaining in the program when the withdrawal is requested.
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. The hotline phone # is updated before the website is updated.
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 Commissioner of Human Services at 203-622-3800 or demetria.nelson@greenwichct.org
Program and Participant Photographs

Parks and Recreation reserves the right to use program or event photographs including participants in official Town of Greenwich media only (website, newsletter, flyers and advertisements, Facebook, and/or Instagram). Please contact the Recreation Office if you object to the use of photographs of you or your child(ren) in Town media.