GLOVERSVILLE - On Friday, a group of about 15 city kids eager to participate in the city's summer recreation program chatted and laughed while on a city transit bus en route to the Fulton County YMCA.
Second Ward Councilman John Castiglione rode on the bus with the children, as he has done for nearly every day of five-week program, and brought boxes of ice cream sandwiches for them to enjoy after their day of swimming, sports and games.
The kids discussed what they liked best about the program - most said swimming - and talked about the pinata they took turns whacking Thursday.
"Did you like that piata?" one girl asked the little boy next to her. "The candy was delicious."
Transit Manager Al Schutz said about 17 children on average rode the bus each day. YMCA officials put average attendance rates at around 30 children each day. Schutz said local businesses owner Anthony Pazzaglia, who owns EnviroSmart Roofing, donated $500 to the city to pay for the childrens' transportation.
The program had about 700 visits, said YMCA Senior Vice President Ginny Turner.
"I think overall it was a really successful program," Turner said. "For the last week we had lots of extra activities ... we tried to make it like a carnival."
Some of the activities included a dunk tank, the pinata, a bounce house, a clown and other treats, she said.
"All of the kids made thank-you cards for [the Transit Department]," she said.
Turner said without the city bus, many of the children who participated probably would not have been able to attend. She called the arrangement a great example of cooperation between two organizations.
Castiglione said while he was in favor of using the $11,000 spent on the program for an all-ages swim program at the Gloversville Middle School, he still was happy to see how much the children enjoyed the program at the YMCA.
Last year the Common Council spent about the same amount on a five-week swimming program at the middle school that accepted all ages. The program at the YMCA accepted children between 6 and 14 years old.
"It's important for the kids to have some sort of recreation," he said. "I think those that attended the program were very happy with it."
Serena VanNostrand, 12, said she hopes the city has a program again next year and said while she enjoyed the gymnastics, games, sports and computer usage, swimming was her favorite activity. She said she has attended every day and rides her bike to the transit station and back for transportation.
"I hope they have it every year," she said.
Kayleigh Karutis covers Gloversville news. She can be reached at gloversville@leaderherald.com
