The recreation department is undertaking a renovation of the Community Park playground. Due to the deterioration of the wooden structures now in the playground area, the maintenance staff will begin to take down the existing structure next week. In the upcoming months a new playground will be erected. The department apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause residents.

The Garden City Recreation Department will be sponsoring a trip for children in grades 6-8 who are residents of the village to Adventureland Park in Melville. This trip will take place on Wednesday, April 3 for $13.

The department buses will leave from the parking lot of St. Paul's at 11 a.m. and arrive at Adventureland around noon. The children will then enjoy the rides and games for three hours. They will board the bus to come home at 3 p.m. and arrive back at St. Paul's around 4 p.m. Recreation staff will chaperone the trip.

Registration has begun at the recreation department in Village Hall. Payment in cash is due at the time of registration. For further information, call the department at 465-4075.

The annual Easter egg hunt, run by the recreation department, will be held on the grounds of St. Paul's Saturday, March 30. The hunts will begin promptly at 10 a.m. There will be three hunts for the following age groups: pre-school and kindergarten, first and second grades and third, fourth and fifth grades. The children will be searching for all kinds of candy treats as well as "numbered eggs," which will win special prizes.

Parents are asked to observe the age groupings and give all children a fair chance to search for treats.

Now that spring is approaching and a new sports season is on everyone's minds, the recreation dept. would like to inform residents of the organizations and contacts that run the various spring sport programs in town. If you need information on any spring sport please use the following contact members:

Girls Soccer - run by GC Centennials - Randy Colahan 248-7483

Boys Soccer - run by GC Centennials - Sandy Young 739-1305

Travel Soccer - run by GC Centennials - Rick Harken 747-0350

Girls Soccer - run by PAL Rams - Gary O'Connor 248-3898

Boys Lacrosse - run by PAL Rams - Dennis Barry 746-7145

Baseball - run by GCAA - Mike Crowley 565-5307

Softball - run by GCAA - Bob Bolebruch 437-7645

The recreation department is now accepting league application packages for the upcoming men's spring softball league. Rosters will be accepted from the first 16 teams meeting the following eligibility requirements.

1. Businesses located within the Incorporated Village of Garden City.

2. Teams comprised of current residents of Garden City.

3. Teams comprised of current employees of Garden City.

The fee for this league will be $425, which covers the cost of umpires, balls, fields and trophies. Application packages will be accepted until 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 27 or until 16 valid application packages have been accepted. Packages may be obtained at the recreation office in Village Hall now. For further information, call the recreation department at 465-4075.

Several residents have inquired as to the possibility of being added to a softball team in the men's spring league. While the recreation department registers only full teams for this league, we will gladly assist any resident who would like to join a team in this league. Individual players who meet the current eligibility rules, but who are not affiliated with a particular team, may call the recreation office at 465-4075 and ask to be placed on the "interested players" list. If enough players join this list, a team will be formed. If there are not enough players to form a team, the recreation department will notify the captains of the existing teams of the list in hopes that interested players will be "picked up."

A pre-season tune-up tennis clinic for competitive women tennis players will take place at the Garden City Community Park Tennis Facility. This clinic will be held the week of May 6 with a possible second clinic if enrollment dictates.

The schedule for the clinic is as follows:

Session I:

Monday, May 6, 9-11 a.m.

Wednesday, May 8, 9-11 a.m.

Session II:

Monday, May 6, noon-2 p.m.

Wednesday, May 8, noon-2 p.m.

Session III:

Tuesday, May 7, 9-11 a.m.

Thursday, May 9, 9-11 a.m.

Session IV:

Thursday, May 9, noon - 2 p.m.

Friday, May 10, 9-11 a.m.

Each session will be made up of players of similar playing ability. For example;

Level A - 4.0+ players

Level B - 3.0+ players

Level C - 2.0+ players

All courts will have a maximum of four players to one tennis pro. Registration as a doubles team or an entire team is encouraged. The cost of the clinic will be $60 per person. In order to put together these sessions, the recreation department asks that interested people fill out an interest sheet at the recreation department in the village hall. All interest sheets must be returned to the recreation department by Wednesday, April 10. For further information call the recreation department at 465-4075.

A tennis-rating clinic will be held at the Garden City Community Park Tennis Facility on Sunday, April 28 from 9 to 11 a.m. This clinic is open to adult residents of the Inc. Village of Garden City only. The cost of the clinic will be $12. Space is limited, so call the Garden City recreation department at 465-4075 to register for this event.