From Monday, July 7 through Friday, August 22 9am to 5pm, kids can drop by designated streets, schools and playgrounds for a variety of fun. There's stickball, volleyball, basketball, skully and double Dutch for older kids, and jump rope, hopscotch and relay races for younger ones, plus chess, checkers, mancala and board games. In additiont o fun, other goals of the Summer Play Streets program include fostering community and crime prevention.

PAL's Summer Play Streets program dates back to 1914, when NYC's police commissioner, concerned that local kids had no safe places to play, organized a search for vacant lots which could be converted into playgrounds. He ended up closing 29 blocks to traffic in the afternoons so kids could romp. Today, it continues to be PAL's most popular program and gives a whole new meaning to "go play in the street!"

To find a Summer Play Street near you, call the Police Athletic League at 212-477-9450 ext. 389.

The NYC Parks Department runs a similar free Play Streets Program, although it doesn't take place every day. The list of dates and locations will be listed on the website by early July. You can also request a mobile recreation van for your neighborhood, with sports, arts and crafts. board games, face painting, balloon art and more.

Looking for FREE street fun on the weekends? Check out our posts about the Department of Transportation's car-free Weekend Walks and Summer Streets.

Find out about other free seasonal activities in our Summer Fun Guide.

This post was originally published in July 2012.