By Donna Capodelupo
Activities sponsored or supported by the city run the gamut, from daylong playground programs supervised by teachers to unstructured play at a lake or playground.
Most activities for children are run by the Parks and Recreation Department, under the direction of Vincent Ouellette, the city's Human Resources director.
They include the six-week Summer Day Program; adult and youth tennis clinics; swimming and boating at Plug Pond (Lake Saltonstall) and a youth golf clinic.
Plug Pond
Ouellette and his crew were busy working at the Plug Pond beach in the rain on Tuesday to get the popular swimming spot ready for opening. The swimming area normally opens in July, when lifeguards are on duty.
Mayor James Fiorentini's office on Tuesday said this year's budget troubles will not cut into lifeguard staffing at the pond.
"The mayor said there is money for lifeguards at Plug Pond this summer," the mayor's secretary, Linda Kotoulas, told The Haverhill Gazette on Tuesday.
Bathroom facilities are available for visitors to use.
The pond is also the home of the city's Learn to Fish program and its Community Boating program.
The fee to park at the pond is $2.
Summer Day Program
For 25 years, the Summer Day Program has provided all-day care for hundreds of Haverhill children. The sessions are designed for children 6 and older, and are supervised by teachers and high school- and college-aged volunteers.
Field trips, arts and crafts, swimming and sports are included in the activities.
Parents can sign their children up for a two-week session, for a week at a time, or, for a discounted rate, all six weeklong sessions.
Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and all sessions are located at Haverhill High School.
Fees are $140 per week; $250 for a two-week session or $650 for all six weeks.
Dates are:
Session 1: June 29 through July 10
Session 2: July 13 through 24
Session 3: July 27 through Aug. 7
Week 1: June 29 through July 3
Week 2: July 6 through 10
Week 3: July 13 through 17
Week 4: July 20 through 24
Week 5: July 27 through 31
Week 6: Aug. 3 through 7
Youth Tennis
Tennis lessons are offered to help sharpen children's skills on the court. Three sessions are available and are held Mondays through Thursdays. Fridays are reserved for rain days.
The clincs are held at the Winnekenni Tennis Court and cost $40 per session.
Dates and times are:
Session 1: June 29 through July 10
Session 2: July 13 through 24
Session 3: July 27 through Aug. 7
Novice: age 4 to 7, 8:15 to 9 a.m. (session 1 only)
Beginners 1: age 8 to 12, 8 to 9 a.m. (sessions 2 and 3 only)
Beginners 2: age 8 to 12, 9 to 10 a.m. (all sessions)
Advanced Beginners: 13 and older, 10 to 11 a.m. (all sessions)
Intermediate Advanced: 13 and older, 11 to 12:30 a.m. (all sessions)
Adult Tennis
Lessons are offered on Monday and Wednesday evenings from June 29 to Aug. 5. The fee is $50.
Beginners clinic is from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.; team tennis is from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Lessons take place at the Winnekenni Park courts.
Youth Golf Clinic
Golf lessons are provided by and held at Garrison Golf Course, hosted by Mary and Ted Murphy. Sessions are available to youth 9 to 14 years old and there is a maximum of 30 participants per session.
Fee is $55 per session and lessons are from noon to 3 p.m.
Session 1: June 29 and 30
Session 2: July 28 and 29
