This Week in Clarkstown

By Matt Veronesi

In my career, I’ve been fortunate to wear a lot of different hats, from coaching college baseball to working in professional baseball, to serving as an executive producer for a DVD company, to running a baseball and softball training center where I taught kids the fundamentals of the game. I’ve never been bored going to work, and I’ve always found my work to be deeply rewarding. But none of those roles have been as special as the last 20 years I’ve spent in Parks & Recreation.

What I enjoy most about what I do is how Parks & Recreation brings families together. Whether it’s swimming at one of our three pools in Clarkstown, playing a round of miniature golf at Germonds Park, attending one of our more than 20 summer concerts at Lake Nanuet Park, Congers Station Park, West Nyack Hamlet Green and Firefighter Memorial Park, or enjoying one of the car shows at Congers Lake Memorial Park, there is always something happening that helps create shared experiences.

Throughout the year, we also host Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies, a Fourth of July fireworks extravaganza, an Easter egg hunt, holiday celebrations for Christmas and Hanukkah, a Halloween event, a senior show, and our Senior Picnic and Health Fair. The list goes on, but the goal is always the same: to offer meaningful opportunities for residents to come together and enjoy time with one another.

We may be organizing movies, concerts, camps, and community events, but what we are truly creating are opportunities for connection. In today’s world where families are constantly balancing work, school, sports, and busy schedules, it can be difficult to slow down and simply enjoy time together. That’s where Parks & Recreation makes a difference. It helps create space to pause, breathe, and enjoy life as a community.

At the end of the day, Parks & Recreation is about much more than ballfields, pools, walking paths, or event calendars. It’s about helping parents connect with their children, neighbors become friends, and residents build lasting relationships within their community. Long after an event ends, the memories created at our parks and facilities are what people carry with them. That is the true value of Parks & Recreation, not just organizing activities, but helping build memories that strengthen a community for generations.

The miniature golf course at Germonds Park will officially open for the season on Saturday, May 23rd, from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The course will be open on Saturdays and Sundays only until June 13th, when it will expand to seven days a week from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Daily operations will continue through September 6th, after which hours will return to Saturdays and Sundays only through September 27th, when the season concludes. Special holiday hours will also be held on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25th, from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Pool passes are now available through the Town of Clarkstown Parks & Recreation Department. Individual passes are $125 for the season, and family passes are $500. For those without a season pass, daily admission is $10 for Clarkstown residents with an active Community Center card.

The Town of Clarkstown Family Campout will be held at Congers Lake Memorial Park on Friday, May 29th. Families are invited to bring their own tents and sleeping bags for a fun and safe overnight camping experience in the park. The evening will include family activities, a barbecue, a movie on the big screen, s’mores by the fire, and a light breakfast on Saturday morning. The cost is $25 for adults and $20 for children under 18.

Calling all Clarkstown high school pickleball players! The Town is launching a new Pickleball League for students in grades 9–12. Residents can sign up as teams of three, or we will help place individuals onto teams. The eight-week league will accommodate up to 12 teams, so space is limited. Registration is $40 per player, and it’s a great way to stay active, have fun, and enjoy some friendly competition.

Protect your family’s future and bring peace of mind to your loved ones by attending an informative presentation on the importance of having a will. This free session will be led by resident Perry Kotzker on Friday, June 5th at 10:00 a.m. at the Street Community Center. To register, please contact Chelsea at the Town of Clarkstown Parks & Recreation Department at 845-639-5731. Coffee, tea, muffins, and bagels will be served.

For more information on any of these programs or events, please contact the Town of Clarkstown Parks & Recreation Department at 845-639-6200.

Have an idea for a future column or an event in Clarkstown you’d like highlighted? Feel free to reach out at m.veronesi@clarkstown.gov.

Have a great week!