Mayor Warren Announces 2014 Summer Recreation Season

City of Rochester

News Release

(Friday, May 23, 2014) – Mayor Lovely A. Warren, City Council President Loretta Scott and Department of Recreation and Youth Services Commissioner Marisol O. Ramos-Lopez announced today that the City’s Summer Recreation Program will begin June 30, which means it’s time for parents to start researching opportunities to keep their children healthy and engaged over the summer months.

The Bureau of Recreation will host open houses at all of its Community Centers today from 4 to 7 p.m. to provide families a chance to tour the facilities, meet the staff and learn about summer programs, camps and meal offerings. The events will include games, crafts, prizes and healthy snacks. Recreation staff will also be available at the Rochester Public Market office from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday to provide information on summer activities.

“Research shows that all children lose some level of academic skill during the summer recess, but the summer learning loss is much more significant among the children of low-income families,” said Mayor Warren. “The City’s Summer Recreation Program offers a host of activities for children to keep their minds sharp and their bodies fit while also experiencing the childhood joys of summer vacation.”

The Summer Recreation Program offers a variety of opportunities for children to have fun, eat nutritious meals, stay out of the heat and keep their mind and bodies sharp. Programs include the low-cost ArtSmart and Youth Sports camps, Summer Swim Academy and a full agenda of free activities under the direction of more than 600 trained Recreation Employees. Many of the Centers include pools and spray parks.

New this year, select Community Centers are offering specialized programs at “magnet sites,” which feature structured activities in focused interest areas. Each of these sites offers a learning-based enrichment activity led by professional staff and topic experts in such fields as athletics, arts and crafts, science and technology, and nature and the environment.

Also new this year, all recreation areas will be smoke-free as a result of a City ordinance passed in December. This includes all parks, playgrounds, picnic areas, Community Center grounds and other opens spaces.

ArtSmart camp, located in Cobb’s Hill Park, engages youth in a wide range of creative arts including painting, dance, music, theatre and more. Participants are empowered to express themselves and make creative choices as they explore and develop their artistic talents.

Youth Sports Camp, located in Genesee Valley Park, offers a wide variety of sports that are sure to keep budding athletes active and entertained all summer long. Camp participants will learn a new sport each week with a summer-long emphasis on teamwork, sportsmanship and demonstrating positive behavior on and off the playing field.

Both camps are open to youth ages 6 to 13 Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., July 7 through Aug. 22. The fee for city youth is $85 per week; $130 per week for non-city youth. Siblings’ rates are discounted $20.

Free youth swim lessons and low-cost adult lessons are also available through the Summer Swim Academy.

Genesee Valley Pool, Rochester’s public outdoor pool, will open June 15. Durand Eastman Beach will be open for swimming June 22.

Recreation facilities have varying summer opening times, but all close at 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. All facilities are open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and all are closed on Sundays, with the exception of the Genesee Valley Park pool. All Recreation facilities will be closed Friday, July 4.

For for more information on Summer Recreation Programs, call the Bureau of Recreation at 428-6755. Pick up a Recreation Summer Guide at any city Library or Community Center or visit www.cityofrochester.gov/summerrec.

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News Media: For more information, contact Communications Director Christine Christopher at 428-7135.