Street Squash

StreetSquash was founded in Harlem in September 1999 as the second urban squash program in the United States. A comprehensive youth enrichment program, StreetSquash combines academic tutoring, squash instruction, community service, college preparation, leadership development, and mentoring for young people ages 11-24. What began as an after-school program with 24 middle school students and two staff members has expanded and served upwards of 600 participants from 6th grade through college graduation and entry into the workforce.

For the first nine years, StreetSquash ran programs all over New York City: study sessions and squash practices at Columbia University, the Harvard Club, and the Westside YMCA; college prep and literacy enrichment at Thurgood Marshall Academy; squash matches and cultural exposure all throughout the five boroughs. Then, in November 2008, StreetSquash opened a permanent home at the SL Green StreetSquash Center with 8 ASB squash courts, 4 classrooms, a library, and the organization’s administrative offices. This new facility allowed for the creation of the PE in Public Schools Program, as well as a new relationship with Columbia University, as the home courts for the Men’s and Women’s Varsity Squash teams. In 2012, StreetSquash expanded to Newark, New Jersey, to extend StreetSquash’s model of long-term intensive support to children in Newark public schools. The program was the first and only squash and education organization in the state. Daily sessions were run out of the Newark YMCA, the YMCA of Montclair, the Montclair Salvation Army, and Drew University. While the Newark site dissolved in 2020 after serving more than 150 students, StreetSquash continued to work with the Class of 2021 and will continue to serve all Newark’s 31 alumni.

Fun Facts:

  •     StreetSquash partnered with Thurgood Marshall Academy to develop and coach the first ever All-Black team to compete at U.S. High School Squash Nationals.

  •     When the SL Green StreetSquash Center first opened in November 2008, it was the largest squash facility in New York City. 

  •     SL Green StreetSquash Center is the home facility for Columbia University men's and women's varsity squash teams. Columbia only had a club team until 2011 with the SL Green StreetSquash Center giving them the ability to create varsity teams.