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Tuesday was the last day of school in Baltimore City, but as
we all know active learning should continue even after the dismissal bell
rings. To keep our youth safe and active until the school year begins, Family League of Baltimore has launched Super Summer, an online portal where families can find resources, activities, and events available to keep the summer days filled with learning, fun, and new possibilities.
It
remains my top priority to expand youth opportunities across the board, and over the next week, Baltimore City Recreation and Parks will break ground and expand three recreation centers, including Rita Church, C.C. Jackson and Roosevelt Skatepark.
Together, we will continue to make improvements to our recreation facilities, which builds on the strategic plan I launched last year to increase the
capacity of centers year-round.
This plan includes nearly 300,000
square feet of new recreation space, including 11 fitness and wellness centers;
increased staffing, three times more public pools, extended recreation hours,
and broader programming for the entire family and seniors.
An
online petition has been started for residents to share their support of the
plan, and I invite you to check out the Destination
Active Baltimore website to join our conversation! Creating a better Baltimore
takes commitment from all of us.
Destination
Active Baltimore is the City’s first comprehensive plan for recreation in
more than two decades. Through it, we’ve built several new centers in Cahill,
Cherry Hill, and Morrell Park, in addition to completing a total renovation of
the Druid Hill Park Pool.
Before I came into
office, our city was closing recreation centers without any substantive plan on
how to fill the gaps. I knew that we could do better, and that our youth and
communities deserved better.
The value of quality
recreational opportunities is often undervalued, but innovating and creating
places to play is an essential aspect of public health.
Many of the current
recreation centers throughout the City were constructed in the late 60s or
early 70s and are in poor condition. Recognizing the urgent need for upgrades, I’ve continued to advocate and provide
funding to mobilize large-scale improvements that will benefit current
residents and generations to come.
Parks and recreation
centers bring communities together by offering a place for health and
well-being that are accessible to all ages and abilities, including residents
with disabilities.
My recreation plan is a gateway to a
healthier Baltimore. Our
counselors and facilities are lifelines to keeping residents active, safe, and engaged. Not to mention, these facilities serve to strengthen the way our nieghborhoods see and
feel about themselves, and also supports economic development, and vibrant community-centered culture.
Building
a superior quality of life for residents is at the heart these efforts, and I
hope that you will join me in getting active and helping to move these initiatives
forward. To get involved or to share your support, follow this link to learn more!
Sincerely,
Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
Mayor
City of Baltimore
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