Battery Park City is getting residents moving for the summer.
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Battery Park City, a vibrant and sustainability-focused neighborhood on Manhattan’s South West corner, is offering a series of summer events for residents to enjoy at no charge. Events include cultural and public health campaigns that are meant to engage residents and inspire them to live a healthy life. Battery Park City is managed by Governor Andrew Cuomo, who appoints a board of directors to oversee the success of the neighborhood. The most recent high profile board members are Carl Mattone, real estate mogul and land developer in New York City, and new board president, Dennis Mehiel, manufacturing executive.
Every Friday through August 23rd, Battery Park City is hosting Sunset Jams on the Hudson at Robert F. Wagner, Jr. Park. The program features musician Mary Knysh, who specializes in Latin, African and Caribbean drumming. Community members are invited to bring their drums and play along. Knysh encourages everyone to find their own musical spirit with open participation and learning sessions.
Another music series from the city this summer was the “River and Blues” concert series. The concerts were held at Wagner Park on Thursdays, and featured several local blues bands giving free concerts. Bands included The Wiyos, famous for unconventional instruments like the kazoo and the ukulele. Blue guitar player Bill Sims, Jr. was also featured on August 1st as a free concert headlines.
Earlier this year, Battery Park City teamed up with the local department of recreation and Equinox Fitness clubs to participate and promote Shape Up NYC, a city-wide public health campaign to get residents moving. The goal of the campaign is to address disparity and decline of health in certain city neighborhoods and help introduce people to the benefits of exercise. Battery Park City is offering two different classes during the summer. The first is a “cardio sculpting” class on Tuesday nights at 5:30. There is also a stretch and tone class that takes place on Wednesday afternoons.