Dates set for Camden Night Gardens and Camden Jam
CAMDEN -- Mayor Dana L. Redd and Cooper's Ferry Partnership Vice President Meishka L. Mitchell unveiled the 2017 Connect the Lots line-up, featuring a variety of fun outdoor events and programming for the spring and summer months designed to engage residents and activate vacant, underutilized spaces in neighborhoods throughout the City of Camden. Dance troop Dare 2 Dance provided a demonstration of a new 2017 Connect the Lots fitness class, House Party Fitness. Additionally, and a variety of performance car show cars were displayed onsite, a teaser of some of this season's special event offerings.
"This year's line-up of dynamic programming is designed for people of all ages," explained Mayor Redd. "By offering an array of activities right in the heart of our vibrant neighborhoods, we are hoping to inspire residents to celebrate the rich cultural offerings we have right here in the City, while engaging the community and attracting visitors from throughout the region."
Connect the Lots is a collaboration between Cooper's Ferry Partnership, the City of Camden, Get Healthy Camden, Camden Promise Zone and the residents and stakeholders of the Camden neighborhoods where the program's activities and events take place. The main goal of Connect the Lots is to engage Camden residents in neighborhood transformation by creating safe hubs of activity and quality programming for residents to enjoy in city public spaces and corridors.
From left: Councilman Luis A. Lopez, representatives from Camden-based dance troupe, Dare 2 Dance; Mayor Dana L. Redd; Sharice Sloan El, instructor of the new 2017 Connect the Lots' House Party Fitness class; City Council President Frank Moran; Meishka L. Mitchell, Vice President of Neighborhood Initiatives at Cooper's Ferry Partnership; and Council Member At Large Marilyn Torres. This year, there is a mix of fun new and returning Connect the Lots classes, attractions and special events planned for the upcoming months.
The Connect the Lots season will begin and end with its two trademark events -- Camden Night Gardens in May and Camden Jam in September. Camden Night Gardens is scheduled for May 20 in Roosevelt Plaza Park. The event first debuted in 2014, and has grown each year, attracting more than 3,000 residents and visitors in celebration of Camden's rich artistic and cultural heritage. This year, Camden Night Gardens will feature an array of local artists, performers, food trucks and more, and will begin at 7 p.m. in Roosevelt Plaza Park, in front of City Hall in the heart of the City. The season will end with Camden Jam on Sept. 9, which will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. in Roosevelt Plaza Park. The annual music festival will feature artists and acts from a variety of genres, as well as fun, family-friendly cultural arts activities for people of all ages to enjoy.
In June, a new two-day citywide basketball festival, called the Camden Peace Games, will make its debut in Rev. Evers Park. The annual afternoon concert series has grown into a weekly Farmer's Market and Music in Roosevelt Plaza Park every Thursday from July to September. Every Friday night from June through August there will be Outdoor Movies & Family Fun featured in one of two locations in the city -- Roosevelt Plaza Park in June/July and Dudley Grange Park in August. For bicycle enthusiasts, the "I Bike Camden" event is scheduled for August in Cooper's Poynt Park. For the first time, House Party Fitness is being offered in Pyne Poynt Park and Zumba at Dudley Grange Park, while the popular Bootcamp fitness classes are changing location to Cooper's Poynt Park. Together with the many events scheduled as a part of the summer recreation program, there will be lots of free activities in Camden this summer.
The full schedule of Connect the Lots events and programming is as follows:
- Camden Night Gardens, Saturday, May 20, 7 p.m., Roosevelt Plaza Park - North 5th Street between Market and Federal streets (520 Market St., in front of City Hall)
- NEW: Zumba In The Park, Mondays, June through August, 6 p.m., Dudley Grange Park - Federal and Dudley streets in East Camden (3101 Federal St.)
- Yoga In The Park, Tuesdays, June through August, 6 p.m.. Johnson Park - 2nd and Cooper streets.
- NEW: House Party Fitness, Wednesdays, June through August, 6 p.m., Pyne Poynt Park at Erie Street, between 6th and 7th streets.
- NEW: Farmer's Market & Music, Thursdays, July through September, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Roosevelt Plaza Park - North 5th Street between Market and Federal streets (520 Market St., in front of City Hall)
- Bootcamp In The Park, Thursdays, June through August, 6 p.m., Cooper's Poynt Park - Delaware Avenue at Elm Street
- Aqua Aerobics, Saturdays, July and August - 10 a.m., North Camden Community Pool - 600 Erie Street
- Outdoor Movies & Family Fun, Fridays in June and July, 7-10 p.m., Roosevelt Plaza Park - North 5th Street between Market and Federal Streets (520 Market St., in front of City Hall); and Fridays in August - 7-10 p.m. at Dudley Grange Park, Federal and Dudley Streets in East Camden (3101 Federal St.)
- NEW: Camden Peace Games - Citywide Basketball Fest, Sunday, June 11 - 3-7 p.m., Rev. Evers Park - 990 Morgan Boulevard
- 2nd Annual Camden's Got Talent, Thursday, June 20, 6-8 p.m., Johnson Park - 2nd and Cooper Streets
- NEW: "I Bike Camden" Event, Saturday, August 12, 10 a.m., Cooper's Poynt Park - Delaware Avenue at Elm Street
- Arts Workshop - "Weaving Community," Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in July - 12-2 p.m. at Rutgers Center for the Arts - 314 Linden St.
- Camden Jam, Saturday, Sept. 9 - 2-8 p.m., Roosevelt Plaza Park - North 5th St. between Market and Federal streets (520 Market St., in front of City Hall)
All Connect the Lots programming is made possible through support from The Kresge Foundation, William Penn Foundation, Campbell Soup Foundation, GE, The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, as well as program partners like Rutgers-Camden Center for the Arts, St. Joseph's Carpenter Society, YMCA of Burlington and Camden Counties, The Salvation Army Kroc Center, Camden Special Services District, Dare 2 Dance and Diva Richards.
For more information, visit www.connectthelotscamden.com or call 856-757-9154. For event text alerts, text "CTLCAMDEN" to 41411.
For more information on Camden summer programs, visit www.ci.camden.nj.us.
This item submitted by Lauren Schiavo, Thomas/Boyd Communications, for City of Camden.