Press Release
May 25, 2016
State Parks Press Office:
Randy Simons | Dan Keefe
(518) 486-1868 | news@parks.ny.gov
ESD Press Office:
Jason Conwall (ESD)
Jason.Conwall@esd.ny.gov | PressOffice@esd.ny.gov | (800) 260-7313
Four State Parks in New York City to Host Be a NY Ninja Day on Saturday, June 4, following the debut of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows
Free Kids Event to Encourage Fun and Fitness
In celebration of the movie release of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is joining with the Governor's Office of Motion Picture and Television Development, Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies to present Be a NY Ninja Day on Saturday, June 4 in New York City at Riverbank, Roberto Clemente, and East River State Parks, and Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve.
Be a NY Ninja Day coincides with the weekend release of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows where Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo return to the big screen to battle bigger, badder villains. Each park will have a fun activity, giveaways and a grand prize drawing with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows movie passes and special studio items. In addition to the four Be a NY Ninja Day events being held in NYC, a similar event is also planned at Buffalo Harbor State Park in downtown Buffalo to mark one of the location cities where select scenes for the movie were filmed.
"State Parks are the perfect setting for kids to stay healthy by remaining active and to forge an interest in nature," said State Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey. "We are delighted to add to the exciting spring and summer programs planned this season throughout the parks by hosting a fun hands-on turtle-themed event for the local community. From New York City to Western New York, everyone's considered a NY Ninja on June 4!"
"We are thrilled about continuing our partnership with State Parks and Paramount Pictures/Nickelodeon Movies, using the latest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles blockbuster to again provide an active and healthy outlet that encourages kids to engage with nature and the arts," said Gigi Semone, Executive Director, New York State Governor's Office for Motion Picture and Television Development. "New York State's film industry is building on a strong legacy of contributing to the local community - by creating jobs for New Yorkers and giving back to our youth through free, hands-on events and activities throughout the spring and summer seasons."
Event times and brief descriptions are as follows:
East River State Park:
12-2pm; (718.782.2731); Featuring ninja warrior obstacle course for kids
Roberto Clemente State Park:
12-2pm; (718.299.8750) Featuring a youth obstacle course
Riverbank State Park:
12-2pm; (212.694.3600) Offering turtle-themed basketball and tennis games followed by races and exercises and a free ride on the carousel
Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve:
3-5pm; (718.967.1976) Hosting games, races & turtle crafts followed by a turtle hike with a park naturalist.
No pre-registration is required for the programs. Information about the events can be found at www.nysparks.com or by contacting the park directly.
To encourage children to get active and connect with nature, New York State is also partnering with the National Park Service to extend free State Park day-use entry to all fourth-grade students and their families in 2016. Details about the Connect Kids program can be found at nysparks.com.
Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo return to theaters this summer in "TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: OUT OF THE SHADOWS" to battle bigger, badder villains alongside April O'Neil (Megan Fox), Vern Fenwick (Will Arnett), and a newcomer: the hockey-masked vigilante Casey Jones (Stephen Amell). After super villain Shredder (Brian Tee) escapes custody, he joins forces with mad scientist Baxter Stockman (Tyler Perry) and two dimwitted henchmen, Bebop (Gary Anthony Williams) and Rocksteady (WWE Superstar "Sheamus"), to unleash a diabolical plan to take over the world. As the Turtles prepare to take on Shredder and his new crew, they find themselves facing an even greater evil with similar intentions: the notorious Krang.
From Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies. Produced by Michael Bay, p.g.a., Andrew Form, p.g.a., Brad Fuller, p.g.a., Galen Walker and Scott Mednick. Based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters created by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman. Written by Josh Appelbaum & André Nemec. Directed by Dave Green. Starring Megan Fox, Will Arnett, Laura Linney, Stephen Amell, Noel Fisher, Jeremy Howard, Pete Ploszek, Alan Ritchson, Brian Tee and Tyler Perry.
"TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: OUT OF THE SHADOWS" is in theaters June 3, 2016.
About New York State Parks
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees 180 state parks and 35 historic sites, which are visited by 65 million people annually. A recent study found that New York State Parks generates $1.9 billion in economic activity annually and supports 20,000 jobs. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit nysparks.com, connect on Facebook, or follow on Twitter.
About the New York State Governor's Office for Motion Picture & Television Development
The New York State Governor's Office for Motion Picture & Television Development (MPTV), a division of Empire State Development (ESD), offers film, television and commercial productions and post production tax credits for qualified expenditures in New York State. The office also serves as a liaison between production companies and city and local governments, state agencies, a network of statewide contacts, local film offices and professional location scouts and managers. For more information on filming in New York State or the Film Production and Post Production Tax Credit Programs, please visit nysfilm.com
About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Television, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.