Arts, Environment, Recreational & Cultural Enrichment (from cityofsummit.org)
Summit offers a range of arts, environment, recreation and cultural programs, facilities, and events to engage and educate the community.
The Summit Boards of Recreation and Education, the Summit YMCA and many other non-profit organizations enable residents of all ages the ability to participate in leisure and health-related programs. The Summit YMCA has a terrific youth swim team, called the Summit Seals, that is very competitive in New Jersey. Besides having a state-of-the-art pool and top of the line workout equipment, the Summit Y also has a great deal of adult recreation leagues including a great basketball league. They have also have competitive pickup games for those just looking for a great workout without the firm schedule of joining a league! Summit has numerous playing fields to include baseball, football, soccer, basketball, tennis, running track and a 9-par Golf Course and a Municipal Pool. Memorial Field is a wonderful park with tennis courts, basketball courts, huge playgrounds, soccer fields, baseball diamonds and more! It is host to the amazing 4th of July parade in Summit and fireworks show at night!
Artistic and cultural traditions are strong in Summit, with its roots in the visual arts dating back to Worthington Whittredge, a painter of the Hudson River School who lived in Summit from 1880 – 1910. The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey is a commitment to the arts offering cultural activities, ranging from art exhibits and jazz concerts to courses for budding artists. The Summit Free Public Library offers an adverse array of cultural readings, movies, special events and free internet access for all ages.
For nature lovers, the Reeves-Reed Arboretum is a great place to visit with formal gardens and woodlands on its 12.5 acres site and is a New Jersey Registers of Historic Places. Nature classes and seasonal events are available for both children and adults.
Besides the athletic, artistic and cultural pursuits that Summit enables, the city of Summit also has one of the most bustling downtowns in the area, with a great collection of top restaurants, bars, and shopping!
