News Release - Mayor Warren Announces Summer Recreation Programs

News Release

Mayor Warren Announces Summer Recreation Programs

(Wednesday May 13, 2015) – Mayor Lovely A. Warren and Department of Recreation and Youth Services Commissioner, Marisol O. Ramos-Lopez, announced today that City summer recreation programming will begin June 29 and encouraged parents to start researching opportunities to keep their children healthy and engaged during the summer months.

“Our City R-Centers are a critical component in our efforts to provide more jobs, safer neighborhoods and better educational opportunities for our children,” said Mayor Warren. “City Recreation offers the perfect antidote to summer learning loss by providing a host of activities for children to keep their minds sharp and their bodies fit while experiencing the joys of summer vacation.”

The summer recreation program provides a variety of opportunities for children to have fun, eat nutritious meals, beat the heat and keep their minds and bodies active and engaged. Programs include low-cost ArtSmart and Youth Sports camps, Summer Swim Academy and a full lineup of educational programming under the direction of more than 600 R-Center staff members.

Returning for a second year, several R-Centers are offering specialized “magnet” programs which feature activities on focused areas of interest such as science and technology, sports, the arts and the environment. In these programs, kids learn by investigation, experimentation and problem-solving. Enrichment activities are led by professional staff and topic experts. Each magnet program also includes time for organized play, field trips related to the magnet theme and outings to Rochester’s recreational and cultural attractions.

At ArtSmart camp, located in Cobb’s Hill Park, kids express their creativity through painting, dance, music, theatre and other arts activities. At Youth Sports camp in Genesee Valley Park, kids try a new sport each week with an emphasis on teamwork, sportsmanship and positive behavior. Both camps run Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., July 6 through Aug. 21, and are open to kids ages 6 to 13.

City R-Centers are ready to help keep kids and adults stay in shape this summer. R-Center facilities include first-rate fitness equipment, basketball courts, game rooms, computer labs, playgrounds, pools and spray parks. Access to R-Center facilities is free with an R-Centers EZ Pass. Apply for an EZ Pass at any neighborhood R-Center or the City’s Department of Recreation and Youth Services office, 400 Dewey Ave. EZ Pass registration forms may also be downloaded at www.cityofrochester.gov/rcenters.

During the summer, R-Centers will open at 8:30 a.m., Monday through Friday (closing times vary). Select R-Centers will also be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays; Adams Street, Avenue D, Campbell Street, Carter Street, David F. Gantt, Flint Street, South Avenue and Thomas P. Ryan.

All R-Centers will be closed Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4 for Independence Day.

The City offers many opportunities to stay cool and enjoy the water this summer at a variety of indoor and outdoor pools and family-friendly water spray parks. Summer Swim Academy offers free swim lessons for kids ages 6 to 18 and low-cost lessons for adults are also available. Rochester’s outdoor, Olympic-size pool at Genesee Valley Park will open Sunday, June 14, and supervised swimming at Durand Eastman Beach will begin Sunday, June 21.

City R-Centers will host open house events on Saturday, May 16 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to provide families a chance to tour facilities, meet staff and learn about the exciting variety of free and low-cost summer programs available this summer.

For more information, call the Bureau of Recreation at 428-6755, or pick up a Recreation Summer Guide at any R-Center, City branch library or the Rochester Public Market. Guides are also available at www.cityofrochester.gov/summerrec and a complete list of R-Center locations and hours may be found at www.cityofrochester.gov/rcenters.

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News Media: For more information, contact Press Officer Jessica Alaimo, 428-7135.