The Police Athletic League enjoys a rich history of providing athletic and educational programming to the youths of the City of Buffalo and Western New York. In the 1950’s and 1960’s, the PAL operated several Community Centers throughout the City with game room activities and sports programming for neighborhood kids including a boxing program at the Austin Street site. In addition, in conjunction with the Buffalo Evening News conducted the BEN-PAL baseball league in Riverside, Delaware and Cazenovia Parks.
After a period of declining enrollment and building closings, a commitment was made by former Buffalo Mayor Anthony Masiello as he entered office in 1994 to rebuild the PAL to once again provide quality athletic and educational programming to the boys and girls of the City of Buffalo. He accomplished this by providing seed money to PAL generated from proceeds from his Inaugural Ball and through the collaboration of the Buffalo Police Parks and Recreation and PAL employees. A memorandum of Understanding signed in 1997 formalized the cooperative relationship between the City and PAL and allowed PAL Staffers to work alongside Recreation personnel to provide a seamless provision of a wide range of services.
Mayor Byron Brown has continued that commitment by enhancing the relationship between PAL and the Department of Community Services and Recreational Programming. PAL provides athletic and educational programs, arts and crafts, field trips, holiday parties and a host of other activities at the seven Community Centers.
Buffalo PAL conducts Basketball Leagues in Summer, Fall, and Winter for both Boys and Girls; a Baseball League in the summer; a Floor Hockey Program in the winter; a year around Boxing Program; and a highly regarded program for teenage girls – the ”You Go Girl” Program. Other activities include for Tennis – “Love to Serve Tennis;” Golf – “Clubs For Kids;” Ice Skating – “Learn to Skate;” and Bicycle Safety and Bike Helmet Giveaways scheduled each year in City Parks, Community Centers and other venues.
The Police Athletic League is supported through grants from the City of Buffalo, the County of Erie, New York State, Business and Community sponsors and donations from the public.
Activity dates/times are subject to change. Please connect with Buffalo PAL on Twitter and Facebook for last minute updates schedule changes.
“PAL is a vitally important non-for-profit organization in Buffalo, dedicated to the positive development of our city youth. As Co-Chair, I thank our many PAL partners and sponsors who help us continue to provide PAL’s many youth programs, enabling our young people to develop self-esteem, leadership skills and improve school performance.”