I Got Next! Rucker Park Gets Wi-Fi

Now you can check your email and surf the net while you are waiting to get on the court at Rucker Park or any number of pick up basketball locales in New York.

To mark the first anniversary of the "Wi-Fi in the Parks" initiative that offers free network connections in parks across the five boroughs, AT&T* is lighting up Harlem's Rucker Park as the 22nd New York City park with free AT&T Wi-Fi service. Parks visitors have made more than 2.7 million total connections, averaging more than 10,000 connections per day, since AT&T and the Bloomberg Administration launched the program last June.

Over the next several months, AT&T expects to complete installation at a total of 26 park locations, where any smartphone and tablet user regardless of carrier can connect to the AT&T Wi-Fi Network. AT&T Chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg launched the initiative last year in Manhattan's Thomas Jefferson Park, which since then has seen more than 143,000 connections to date. The popularity of the service spans the five boroughs, with several parks averaging more and more connections per day. Parks now leading the trend include Battery Park, with approximately 3,500 connections per day, and Central Park Tavern on the Green, with approximately 3,800 connections per day.

"It's great that Wi-Fi in the Parks continues to grow and see just how much New Yorkers and other park visitors are using this free service," said AT&T Chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson. "AT&T is committed to providing the most accessible and reliable network, whether at home, at work or, in cooperation with Mayor Bloomberg, throughout New York City's beautiful parks."

"This popular initiative is one more reason New York City is well on its way to becoming the nation's leading digital city," said Mayor Michael Bloomberg. "I want to thank AT&T for their generous donation and their commitment over the past year to further improving the experience of visitors to parks across the five boroughs."

Wi-Fi at Rucker goes live just weeks before the park hosts its annual, legendary basketball tournament that draws tens of thousands of fans. All visitors will be able to connect to the service with a smartphone or tablet, whether or not they are AT&T customers.

The additional parks Wi-Fi launch is part of a five-year digital initiative with Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and the City of New York to provide free Wi-Fi at 26 locations in 20 New York City parks across the five boroughs. Any Wi-Fi enabled smartphone and tablet user can connect to free AT&T Wi-Fi at many other park locations across all five boroughs including:

Herbert Von King Park

McCarren Park Field House

Pier 1 and Pier 6 at Brooklyn Bridge Park

Prospect Park Picnic House

Astoria Park

Tompkins Square Park

Marcus Garvey Park

Clove Lakes Park

Battery Bosque and Ferry Landing at Battery Park

Thomas Jefferson Park

Joyce Kilmer Park

Mineral Springs, Tavern on the Green, Rumsey Playfield and Central Park Zoo in Central Park

Devoe Park

Fort Greene Park

MacDonald Park

Staten Island's FDR Boardwalk