The Verona Recreation Department must make changes to its summer playground program because of the construction that will be taking place at Verona’s public schools this summer as a result of the referendum.
Instead of its usual programs for children through 8th grade, the Rec Department will need to limit this year’s playground to pre-K through fourth grades. While the playground program is traditionally spread across Verona’s schools, this summer’s pre-K/4th grade program will be held entirely at the Verona Community Center. For 5th through 8th grades, there will be two two-week mini-sessions that will include activities in Verona and bus trips.
Jim Cunningham, who heads the Rec Department, told the Town Council at it’s Monday meeting that his department had looked for alternative space to accommodate all of the grades both in Verona and at Caldwell University but could not find anything that worked, logistically or financially. Cunningham will be sending an email with more summer playground information to all households registered in the CommunityPass system later this week. At Monday’s meeting, the Council approved to addition of air conditioning to the Community Center gym, which could make it easier to hold the playground programs there.
In his remarks to the Council, Cunningham conceded that the playground program changes would mean that it won’t be Verona’s biggest youth employer this summer. “There will not be as many Rec camp jobs for 15 year olds this summer,” he said. “So if you know how to swim, go get your lifeguard certification because we always need lifeguards.”
