By STEVEN VIERA
Staff Writer
RED BANK — The Director of Parks and Recreation, Charlie Hoffman, wants to make summer evenings unforgettable for both members of the community and visitors with the 2016 Summer Series.
“It’s a great way to enhance the overall Red Bank experience,” he said. “It really becomes a legendary night for you.”
Beginning during the first week of July, the Summer Series will feature movies, fitness and jazz in Riverside Gardens Park each week through the end of August. Fitness in the park is the only exception, as it kicked off on June 1 and will run until Sept. 28.
On Tuesdays, Movies in the Park begin at dusk. “As soon as it gets dark, we press play,” Hoffman said.
“Jurassic World” will be the first film of the Summer Series on July 5, followed by other movies like “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” “Zootopia” and — in commemoration of the 100-year anniversary of the New Jersey shark attacks — “Jaws” as well as several others.
Fitness in the Park, run in conjunction with the local YMCA, takes place on Wednesday evenings from 6-7 p.m. The particular exercise featured at each session will rotate between Zumba, Pilates and yoga. Hoffman pointed out that several dozen people have participated in the first two weeks of Fitness in the Park, although he is hopeful that the program will continue to grow. He encouraged participants to bring a small mat and a towel for use during exercises.
Summer Series’ final event of each week is Jazz in the Park, which begins on Thursdays at 7 p.m. The first concert will be on July 7. A local nonprofit dedicated to celebrating and promoting jazz, the Jazz Arts Project, helped to coordinate and select the participating musicians, who cover a range of different styles from solid jazz to Brazilian and Latin jazz.
“Red Bank produces great jazz. It’s in the fabric of who we are, so that’s why we celebrate it,” Hoffman said.
All events hosted as part of the Summer Series are free to the public due to sponsorship from local businesses like Lomurro Law, Riverview Medical Center and many others. In addition, Gracie and the Dudes, a local ice cream shop, will be operating the concession stand.
