Central Park Community Center
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Central Park Community Center offers a wide array of outdoor sports facilities and structured programs for various age groups, supported by caring and friendly staff. It serves as a valuable community hub with offerings like the PAL boxing program and soccer leagues, alongside open access to playgrounds and courts.
Key Highlights
- ✓Exceptional and caring staff (e.g., 'Matt and his staff are exceptional people and truly care for the kids').
- ✓Wonderful PAL boxing program specifically highlighted as beneficial.
- ✓Well-run administration for sports programs ('people who usually run the place were on point').
- ✓Staff are super friendly to kids and responsive to questions.
- ✓Extensive outdoor sports facilities including basketball courts, tennis courts, and a baseball field.
- ✓Two playgrounds available for children.
- ✓Bathrooms are described as 'pretty decent' and open late, with sinks located outside the bathrooms.
- ✓Playgrounds are accessible all night.
Standout Features
- ⭐Variety of outdoor sports facilities including basketball courts, tennis courts, and a baseball field.
- ⭐Two distinct playgrounds for children's play.
- ⭐Caring, friendly, and responsive staff who are 'on point' for program administration.
- ⭐Specific, successful PAL boxing program.
- ⭐Decent bathrooms that are open late, featuring convenient outside sinks.
- ⭐Playgrounds and other facilities remain open all night.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →If bringing young children, be mindful that explicit music may occasionally be played near the basketball courts despite a 'no music' rule.
- →Parents enrolling children in sports programs like soccer might consider inquiring about specific coaches due to reported inconsistencies in coaching quality.
- →For toddlers, be aware that playground flooring is bark, not padded, so appropriate footwear or extra caution may be needed.
- →General center operating hours are Mon-Thur 8 AM - 2:45 PM and Tues/Thurs 4 PM - 6 PM.
- →The center is scheduled to reopen on Jan 13, 2025.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Explicit music is sometimes played at the basketball court, despite a 'no music' rule, potentially exposing young children to inappropriate content ('drugs and such').
- ⚠Significant amount of trash and litter reported throughout the park.
- ⚠Playgrounds use bark flooring instead of padded flooring, which is a concern for parents with toddlers.
- ⚠Inconsistent quality in coach selection for sports programs (e.g., soccer).
Price & Value
No specific pricing information is provided in the reviews. The value appears to come from the availability of free general park facilities and potentially affordable or community-supported structured sports programs (like PAL boxing).
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accessibility accommodations (e.g., wheelchair ramps, sensory-friendly hours) are mentioned in the reviews.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •A food bank service operates on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays for those needing help. No specific policy regarding outside food or drinks for general visitors is mentioned.
🚗Parking Info
- •No information about parking availability or cost is mentioned in the reviews.
👥Crowd Levels
- •No information regarding crowd levels at different times is mentioned in the reviews.
🛡️Safety Features
- •A 'no music' rule is posted, though its enforcement against explicit content is inconsistent.
- •Staff are described as caring for kids and 'on point' for programs, implying active supervision for organized activities.
- •Playgrounds are open all night, which could be a perceived safety consideration for some parents.
- •Playground flooring is bark, not padded, which might be a minor safety/comfort concern for toddlers.
⏰When to Avoid
- • If cleanliness and a litter-free environment are high priorities, as trash is reportedly littered all over.
- • If exposure to potentially explicit music for young children is a strong concern, particularly around the basketball courts.
- • If padded playground flooring is essential for your toddler's safety and comfort.
- • If consistent high-quality coaching in sports programs is a non-negotiable requirement.
Pricing/Package/Events
Events & Schedule
Photos
Recent Reviews
fugal kids
4 months agoThey have a food bank Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday for those that need help it's a great place open from mon to Thur 8 to 245 Tues Thurs 4 to 6 8 reopen on Jan 13 2025
Sean Richey
2 years agoIt’s a great little park! Sometimes people are playing explicit music at the basketball court and you have little kids running around listening to drugs and such. Doesn’t bother me but if I were a parent I would be upset as it does say no music.
Christina Saunders
6 years agoMatt and his staff are exceptional people and truly care for the kids. The PAL boxing program is wonderful and I'm very thankful for it due to our son's involvement with that program. If you don't already, please support this center and respect the greatness of it.
Liz Ruiz
6 years agoOnly down side is the amount of trash littered all over. Other than that bathrooms are pretty decent and open late, there's sinks out side of the bathrooms, basket ball courts, tennis courts, baseball field, and 2play grounds open all night. I prefer padded flooring for my toddler over bark but she hasn't brought too much back with her!
Flor Amado Augason
7 years agoMy niece did soccer this season the people who usually run the place were on point. I just wish they did a better job picking the coaches. Other then that they are always answering any questions we may have and are always super friendly to the kids.