City Offering Services To Fill Gap Left by YWCA Closing

With the recent closing of the Hargett Street YWCA, residents across Raleigh were left with a significant gap in recreation services. The City of Raleigh’s Parks and Recreation Department has been conducting an inventory of programs and services provided by the YWCA to see what it could offer to fill the gap. 

The following list illustrates the services that the City does offer for residents in the wake of the YWCA closing:

After School program for children in Kindergarten through the eighth grade: The City of Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department offers no-cost Community After-School Programs (CAP) for children in kindergarten through sixth grade at 13 sites around Raleigh. Several of these locations are either convenient to the YWCA Hargett Street location or near the YWCA’s identified feeder schools. These include:  

• Chavis Community Center, 505 MLK Jr. Blvd., 919-831-6989;

• Lions Community Center, 516 Dennis Ave., 919-831-6995;

• Roberts Community Center, 1300 E. Martin St., 919-831-6830;

• Tarboro Road Community Center, 121 N. Tarboro Rd., 919-831-6505; and, 

• Worthdale Community Center, 1001 Cooper Rd., 919-250-2730.

The Teen Outreach Program offers no-cost structured after-school opportunities for middle to high school students. Several community center locations near the Hargett Street location offer this program. They include:

• Chavis Community Center, 505 MLK Jr. Blvd., 919-831-6989;

• Lions Community Center, 516 Dennis Ave., 919-831-6995;

• Tarboro Road Community Center, 121 N. Tarboro Rd., 919-831-6505; and,

• Worthdale Community Center, 1001 Cooper Rd., 919-250-2730.

Additionally the St. Monica Teen Center, located at 15 N. Tarboro Road, offers services outside of school hours for youth between the ages of 13 and 18.

Golden Oaks - activities for seniors with low incomes age 55 and over, including a congregate meals program offered through Meals on Wheels:  The Parks and Recreation Department currently supports 48 “Golden Years” clubs located at faith-based institutions, community centers, and senior adult living facilities across the city. The clubs, open to anyone age 55 or older, meet on a weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly basis. Club activities include social interaction, games, education programs and trips. The City of Raleigh does not offer any congregate meal program with any of the clubs. However, the new Parks and Recreation Five Point Center for Active Adults will offer a congregate meal program through a partnership with Meals on Wheels upon opening. “Golden Year” clubs that are hosted at community centers in close proximity to the Hargett Street YWCA include:

• Golden Eagles Club – Top Greene Neighborhood Center, 401 MLK Blvd, 919-250-2730. The club meets on Wednesdays at 11 a.m.;

• Lions Park Club – Lions Community Center, 516 Dennis Ave., 919-831-6995. The club meets on the first and third Wednesdays at 10 a.m.;

• Roberts Park Senior Club –  Roberts Community Center, 1300 E. Martin St., 919-831-6830. The club meets on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.;

• Smiling Age Club – Biltmore Hills Community Center, 2615 Fitzgerald Dr., 919-831-6895. The club meets on Tuesdays at 10 a.m.; and,

• Worthdale Walkers Club – Worthdale Community Center, 1001 Cooper Rd., 919-250-2730. The club meets on Thursdays at 11 a.m.

Breast Cancer Education, Screening and Follow-up services: The Parks and Recreation staff has reached out to Rex Healthcare, the provider of monthly mammograms for YWCA patrons. Top Greene Neighborhood Center hosted the Rex Healthcare mobile mammogram unit from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. on March 28, serving approximately 20 residents. The service will be offered again on April 23. These exams are free to the public.  

“The Parks and Recreation Department may not be able to address all of YWCA services,” said Scott Payne, recreation superintendent. “However, we can offer support in the several areas with our existing resources. I’m hopeful that we’ll continue to be able to do more in the future.”