City R-Centers open during holiday recess
Mayor Malik D. Evans announced today that City of Rochester R-Centers will shift to daytime hours when schools are closed during this year’s two-week holiday recess.
“Kids are looking forward to their holiday break, but these interruptions to the family schedule can also offer their own set of challenges for parents,” said Mayor Evans. “By shifting the R-Center hours to match the traditional workday when schools are closed, parents can enjoy the holiday season with assurance that their children are in a fun and engaging environment that is keeps them healthy, safe and learning.”
With the exception of the Christmas and New Year’s holidays on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, the City R-Centers will be open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 23 through Jan. 3. Breakfast and lunch will be served.
“Time off from school provides a welcome break for students and teachers, but for working parents and those who rely on school meals to make sure their kids are getting enough to eat each day, extended breaks can be a very stressful time,” said Dr. Shirley Green, commissioner of the Department of Recreation and Human Services. “We want these parents to know: when school’s out, we’re open. City R-Centers offer a valuable resource where our staff of caring adults keep kids busy with healthy and fun activities and also make sure they get something to eat during the day.”
Winter recreation programs at the City’s R-Centers and recreation facilities began Monday and continue through Feb. 28. These include traditional sports and athletic programs, team sports, and cooking and dance classes. Many programs also promote academic enrichment and healthy childhood development, including computer coding classes; life-skills training and nature exploration.
When schools are in session, most R-Centers are open from 2:30 to 9 p.m. on weekdays and serve dinner. All city residents are eligible to participate in City recreation programs or utilize recreation facilities, most of which are free.
To take advantage of these services, residents simply create an online account using the R-Central registration tool on the City website. For a complete list of City R-Centers, locations and descriptions of winter programs, visit www.cityofrochester.gov/recreation.
