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Jada Arnstead attended Asbury Park’s Summer Recreation Program since she was 5 years-old, the 14-year-old told a packed a house at the Stone Pony Thursday night.

“I’ve been able to associate with so many different people from so many different backgrounds,” she said. “I want to thank you for opening up our minds to something other than the streets.”

Arnistead is among the hundreds of youth who participate in the city’s recreation program organized in conjunction with the Asbury Park School district.

But last summer many kids were turned away from the program, Mayor John Moor said. To ensure it would never happen again, Moor opted to hold the Mayor’s Rodeo for Recreation Challenge. Four months of behind the scenes collaboration with the Stone Pony and the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce, among others, culminated in Thursday night’s success, Moor said.

“This far exceeded my expectation,” he said.

Three cowboy-clad men greeted attendees atop horses along Second Avenue. Inside the Lakehouse Music Academy student band performed everything from Charlie Daniels’ “The Devil Went Down To Georgia” to Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy” as attendees put in their bids for 50/50 raffle and gift basket auction. A photo booth, pinball games, and square dancing were all apart of the entertainment and a buffet of country barbecue and all its fixin’s were served. Then, headliner After the Reign gave a get-on-your-feet performance.

“As was said in the past, if you do the right thing it will gratify some people and astonish the rest,” Moor said. “Tonight, because of you, I am both gratified and astonished.”

To thank Stone Pony manger Caroline O’Toole for her work organizing the event, Moor presented her with an autographed guitar.

“There will never be a kid turned away from this program, ever,” O’Toole said.

Established in 2009, the city’s Recreation Department partners with local agencies to provide over 30 programs, activities and resources for the youth, including PAL, Pop Warner, and Little League. The summer program features supervised trips to Funtime America, Medieval Times, Funplex, and the city’s beach and boardwalk.

The six-week summer camp programs are administered by the municipality’s Recreation Department, in conjunction with the Board of Education. The city’s Recreation Department not only provides variety of activities for students during the summer months but also works as a summer work program for many of the city’s teens.

The Asbury Park Board of Education sponsors breakfast and summer enrichment classes in the morning that are followed by the municipal funded lunch and afternoon recreation.

According to city officials the Recreation had to turn away over 50 children last summer.

Moor said the event helped raise enough money to send kids to camp this upcoming season, as well as next year. Although checks are still coming in, city officials estimate this may be the most profitable Mayor’s event to date.

“All I can say, is thank you for helping to make this day happen for me and the children of Asbury Park,” Moor said.

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