Yonkers Paddling Receives Funding from Hudson River Estuary Program

From the Yonkers Paddling & Rowing Club:

Yonkers, NY- New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced earlier this week that Yonkers Paddling & Rowing Club is the recipient of a $25,000 grant from the Hudson River Estuary program. This funding will help YPRC increase the capacity of its free public kayaking and environmental awareness program located at the JFK Marina and Park in northern Yonkers.

YPRC’s public kayaking program enters its tenth season in summer 2016. What began as a scrappy kayaking opportunity for downtown groups including Nepperhan Community Center, Greyston Community Garden Enviro-Earth Club and CLUSTER camps has grown steadily: it served 1,190 youth and adults from the surrounding areas this past summer, with dozens of YPRC volunteers setting up, checking in, fitting personal floatation devices, giving lessons, and kayaking alongside the participants.

Phil Giller, director of YPRC’s public kayaking for the past four years, says what he loves about the program is the happiness and empowerment it gives children. “The look on the young kids’ faces as they realize that they are actually on the water themselves, in a single kayak, and that they are moving it from point A to point B—they are beaming with joy.”

On May 13, 2016, the founder of YPRC’s public kayaking program, Jerry Blackstone, will be honored by the Hudson River Community Association of Northwest Yonkers (HRCA) for his many contributions to Yonkers. Blackstone, a former chemistry teacher, and a 31-year resident of Yonkers, also spearheaded Hudson River water quality testing in Yonkers. In addition, Blackstone was a leader in the initiative to improve JFK Marina; helping knit together YPRC and HRCA, two vital community groups. “I am very happy with the improvements that we helped make at JKF Marina. The bathrooms are open, boats can launch safely, and we have running water. I’m happy that I helped improve the quality of life for Yonkers residents,” says Blackstone.

In celebration of a decade of free public kayaking, YPRC is renaming the community program RiverRunners - Paddle Free with YPRC! In addition to public paddling on Thursday afternoons from 4 – 7 PM, RiverRunners will also offer skill classes on Mondays from 11AM - 8 PM. Programs begin in July. Reservations are required, contact: yprckayakinstructor@yprc.org. Phil Giller highlights one more addition for 2016: “We will also offer stand up paddle boarding. It’s what many young people want to do.”

YONKERS PADDLING & ROWING CLUB (YPRC)

The Yonkers Paddling & Rowing Club, Inc. is an all volunteer-run not-for-profit organization that encourages rowing and paddling sports.

YPRC’s programs include rescue and paddling skills clinics, a winter boat-building workshop, and free public kayak sessions at the JFK Marina in Yonkers, which put over 1,190 people on the river in 2015!

2013 marked the “75th Jubilee” of YPRC’s historic boathouse just north of the Yonkers Pier. It was home to Yonkers Canoe Club (YCC) which is remembered for the two Olympic Gold medals it brought home in 1948. Although the boathouse was submerged in four feet of water during Superstorm Sandy, the members rebuilt it and continue the club’s long legacy of community involvement.

YPRC has been recognized through the receipt of grant support from the City of Yonkers, the State of New York, Westchester Community Foundation, Hudson River Estuary program, Hudson River Improvement Fund, Hudson River Foundation for Science and Environmental Research, Inc., Toyota, and Public Lands Every Day, a National Environmental Education Foundation Program.