Mayor Elorza today announced this season’s conclusion of Summer Recreation programs throughout the city. This year’s expanded offerings included dozens of camp activities, municipal pools and water parks – including a new splash park, the city’s summer meals program, high school basketball league, swim meet, little league tournament, and educational programming to promote daily reading.
“A major component of creating stronger, more vibrant neighborhoods is providing children opportunities to have fun, create friendships, and continue to learn during the summer so they return to school on track,” said Mayor Elorza. “I am pleased that this year we were able to provide families and youth more low-cost camps, academic support, and improved recreational facilities.”
This summer the City of Providence offered numerous opportunities for city youth for only $5 per week, including ten (10) weekly sports camps and five (5) specialty camps. In addition to continuing all previous Summer Recreation programs, the 2016 line-up introduced all new programs including bike camp, music and dance camp, and an international camp. Over 2,600 camp participants read 20 minutes daily as part of the city’s Summer of Learning Campaign which targets summer learning loss.
Sports competitions included a swim meet won by the Davey Lopes Recreation Center, a six (6) team Mayor’s Cup Little League Tournament, and a high school basketball league featuring forty (40) teams, which is set to conclude with championship games at the Dunkin Donuts Center on Sunday, August 21, 2016.
Over 16,000 visited the City’s five (5) public swimming pools (Neutaconkanut, Bucklin, Zuccolo, Davey Lopes, and Rogers) and nearly 18,000 visited the thirteen (13) waterparks (General Street, Fargnoli, George J. West, Chad Brown, Billy Taylor, Fox Point, Harriet & Sayles, Richardson, Wallace, Neutaconkanut, Sackett Street, Zuccolo, and Joslin, which opened this summer).
The City’s Recreation Department also hosted seven (7) community cookouts (West End, Joslin, John Rollins, Davey Lopes, Sackett, Billy Taylor, and Central Office).
With the end of the summer break, pools are set to close for the season today, Friday, August 19, 2016. Water parks and recreation centers will remain open from 12:00PM to 5:00PM, Monday through Saturday until September 2, 2016. Recreation centers across the city will open Monday through Friday from 3:00PM to 9:00PM and Saturdays from 9:00AM to 2:00PM beginning on Tuesday, September 6, 2016.