The Township was credited with its commitment to recreation and recognized as a leader for its new multipurpose community center.

In 1999, The Sunshine Gardens Nursery School applicants for a full day nursery program.  Thirty children ages 3 and 4 were accepted into the extended day program which went from 9:15a.m. - 3:00p.m. each day. The extended day children brought bagged lunches each day, participated in recess which included playing outdoors in the playground or watching videos and a nap time. The half day program in the a.m. and p.m. was still an option and a total of 60 kids enrolled in the nursery school in 1999.

The Summer Concert Series of 1999 enjoyed its 55th season of free concerts at the Votee Park Band Shell. Hundreds of music lovers attended the Wednesday night concerts. During the 1999 season, conductor Evan Cooper brought his thirty years of conducting experience to the podium. The highlight of each concert was its featured soloist. The five featured soloists of 1999 were, Matt Bilyk on Trombone; Charles Yassky on Clarinet, Paul Cohen on Saxophone, Judith Schneider played the Oboe and the final concert featured The Orpheus Club Male Chorus.

July 4th, the Department celebrated in style with its 8th annual Fourth of July festival at the Votee Park Band Shell. Viewed as the post parade party by many, families were treated to magic shows, puppet shows, a Mr. Giggles children's comedy show all while enjoying the company of friends and neighbors in beautiful Votee Park. The celebration included face painters, tattoo artists, a petting zoo, pony rides, balloon makers, a moon walk, sea of balls and a huge crawl tunnel maze. In addition an Uncle Sam stilt walker wowed the crowd while walk around characters from Teletubbies and Rugrats thrilled the children. Hundreds of people were in attendance at this year's celebration which also included an art show by members of the Cultural Arts Coalition and musical performances by its members. Also on hand for the event were Police and Fire vehicles which parents and kids enjoyed getting tours of.

The Township's pools, located in Votee Park (inground), Hawthorne Park (above ground), and Phelps Park (above ground) were kept busy during the summer months by 4000 residents who obtained badges to use the facilities. Each of the pools opened at noon to waiting crowds seven days a week. The thirteen wading pools located in various parks were all staffed with attendants and well attended by children of all ages just looking to cool off.

The Adopt-A-Park program, designed to allow community groups, businesses or individuals an opportunity to make claim to a particular park continued to grow. In addition to sponsoring neighborhood events the adoptive groups had a positive influence on pre-serving the beautification of their respective parks. In 1999, Bookstaver Park was adopted Troops 40 and 88 and the Teaneck Volunteer Ambulance Corp. Tryon Park was adopted by a group of residents formed together to make up the Friends of Tryon Park, Phelps Park was adopted by the Ethical Cultural Society of Bergen County. Chop Stix Restaurant adopted Votee Park, the Friends of Herrick Park adopted Herrick Park, Terhune Park was adopted by the Friends of Lubavitch of Bergen County, while the Temple Emeth adopted Windsor Park.

On July 25,1999 members of the Teaneck Stingrays (Junior Soccer League) left Teaneck to participate in the Holland Cup which takes place each year in Amsterdam, Holland. The international tournament involved 240 teams from 34 different countries. These 14 year old soccer players had an opportunity to play and interact with teams from Holland, North Ireland, Germany and Switzerland. Amidst several languages being heard from all over, the boys managed to garner several hard won victories and the adventure left them with many unforgettable memories of their summer of 1999.

Other highlights of spring/summer sports included an impressive year for the Teaneck Baseball Organization. With an estimated 700 kids enrolled, in the completely volunteer run organization, 45 teams made up of baseball and softball players took to the Votee and surrounding fields for some great fun in the sun.

The High School Forum drop in center has worked closely with the Recreation Department over the years. The Recreation Department provides special event programming and open gymnasium supervision for the Forum each year. In 1999, several trips were taken which were bused, chaperoned and paid for by the Township Recreation Department. These included: 6 trips to New Jersey Nets Basketball games, 2 trips to see the New Jersey Devils Ice Hockey, 2 trips Horseback Riding, 2 trips to Seaside Heights, 2 trips to Great Adventure, 2 trips to Mountain Creek and I trip to see the New Jersey Red Dogs Arena Football.

Highlighting the Fall of 1999, the Teaneck Junior Football League, which has been in existence for more than 50 years now, had another banner year. Football players aged 7-13 made up the 140 kids playing in the Jr. Pee Wee, Pee Wee, Jr. Varsity and Varsity divisions. With all home games played on the Teaneck High School field, 1999 proudly ended with a 2nd place finish in the league for the Pee Wee's as well as the Varsity getting a chance to play in the Twin Valley League Conference Super Bowl. In addition to those participating on the field, the organization includes its cheerleaders as important parts of the teams. In 1999, the cheerleaders were broken down into three squads: Jr. Pee Wee, Pee Wee and Varsity. The cheering season ended with the girls attending two competitive roundups. One attended was the Northern Bergen Junior Football League Showcase held at F.D.U. This proved to be an excellent opportunity to showcase each squad's athletic abilities. All girls were awarded a NBJFL trophy for their participation. We also hosted our 2nd annual Showcase held here at Thomas Jefferson Middle School inviting 8 other towns. The season culminated with another hugely successful awards dinner for the entire league where trophies were awarded to acknowledge the boys/girls hard work, dedication and accomplishments for the season.

The Township van provided much needed trips for the Township senior and disabled population. The free service, in operation five days a week for medical appointments and food shopping, made approximately 5000 trips in 1999. On Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays the van was scheduled for medical appointments to local doctors, hospitals and clinics. On Wednesdays and Thursdays trips were taken to the Pathmark in Bergenfield for food shopping. At Pathmark, each member of our Teaneck group is given a $2.00 shopping coupon, courtesy of the store manager. Upon returning to their homes, door to door service is guaranteed as each shopper has their bags carried in for them by our drivers. On months which contain a fifth Wednesday or Thursday the Pathmark trip was substituted with a trip to the Bergen Mall.

The Senior Citizen Services Center, located within the Rodda Building, provided an extensive variety of classes, programs and workshops in 1999. More than 1000 participants made the Center their home away from home. Very popular classes in water color drawing, bridge instruction, clay sculpting and hand building filled the rooms with activity. A variety of exercise programs, health screening, podiatry visits and informational work-shops were offered to improve everyone's outlook and general well being. Activities such as water aerobics, chair exercise and Tai Chi were among the favorites. As always, classes in dance, Yiddish, doll making, wood carvings, quilting and concert choir kept the participants active with a jam packed schedule of offerings. At tax time, a representative from H&R Block was available at the Center to assist with taxes. Holiday parties, birthday celebrations and other special events helped to bring all the Center participants together and a good time was had by all.

To bring in the millennium, the Rodda Center was again used as the headquarters for the Township's First Night New Year's Eve Celebration. Thousands attended the grand event which took over every space at the Center with performances for young and old.  The First Night celebration to bright in the millennium was a huge success brought on by the Cultural Arts Coalition based in Teaneck.

The Teaneck Recreation Department provides a wide range of programs for every age group responding to a wide range of interests.

The programs in this booklet were scheduled for 1999-2000. Programs are added or discontinued from time to time, as residents' taste and leisure activity preferences change.

Throughout the year special events are scheduled for days when public schools are closed (teachers holidays, conference days, legal holidays, but not religious. These include puppet and magic shows, arts and crafts, open gyms and other recreational activities.

For the latest available information on programs, call the Department (837-7130) weekdays from 9:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.

The Department prepares a catalog of available programs for each season, which includes fees for those programs that carry a fee. Copies are free on request at the Recreation Department.

Registration for all programs takes place in the Recreation Department offices at the Richard Rodda Community Center. Except for special occasions, the first day of registration takes place on a weekday evening from 6:00 P.M.- 8:00 P.M. Registration continues weekdays from 9:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. until classes and activities are filled. Call the office for seasonal registration procedures (837-7130).

The Youth Division provides a school year Toddler Nursery Program for ages 3 & 4. Participants can choose a morning program/an afternoon program or an extended full day program. An After School Child Care program, for children in grades Kindergarten through grade seven, is available from school dismissal until 6:00 P.M. Both programs follow the Teaneck Public School and Municipal Holiday Calendar. Registration is ongoing based on availability. Call 837-7130 for more information.

To use Township tennis courts, either for Department sponsored lessons or play, a Township resident must obtain a tennis badge each year. Student and adult badges are sold by the Recreation Department beginning the 2nd week in April.

To reserve a baseball or softball diamond, call the Recreation Department. Permits are issued on an as available basis for a fee. Selected Township ball fields are available for use by a permit only.

Picnic tables and charcoal burners are available in Phelps and Votee Parks. Reservations are not required, but priority is given to Township residents who obtain them. It is recommended that a reservation be made one week in advance of anticipated use. Picnic kits - duffle bags containing sports equipment of your choice (such as a football, baseball bat and bases, volleyball and net, soccer ball, frisbee) are available for loan to Township residents and community organizations. These picnic kits are issued for specific days only.

Each year, a summer band concert series is presented by the Township. This year special concerts will be given on five consecutive Wednesday evenings at 8:30 P.M. in Votee Park band shell.  In case of rain, the concerts are moved into the Teaneck High School auditorium.

To use the swimming pools in Township parks, residents must obtain an ID tag. One tag is good for admission to all above-ground pools; a separate tag is required for use of the in-ground pool in Votee Park. The tags are sold by the Recreation Department beginning in June.

The Senior Citizen Services Center, located at the Richard Rodda Community Center, is in operation Monday through Friday from 9:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M. A hot lunch is available daily for a small suggested donation. A complete calendar of activities, classes and special events is available each month. A County van is available to assist in transporting participants to and from the Center daily. Call 837-0171 for information.

A Township van is available to provide transportation to disabled and senior residents for medical appointments and grocery shopping five days per week. Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays are reserved for local medical appointments. Wednesdays and Thursdays the van makes trips to Pathmark for grocery shopping. Disabled and senior residents can call 837-7130 at least one week in advance to make appointments for trips.