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MILWAUKEE RECREATION PLANS
SAFE SUMMER FOR CITY'S YOUTH

Free and low-cost programs provide supervised fun

Every summer, Milwaukee Recreation provides the city's youth with safe, supervised recreation and enrichment activities. Many of the programs are free, giving children a better alternative to "hanging out" on the streets. These summer programs are listed in Milwaukee Recreation's Summer 2008 Activity Guide, which has been mailed to every city of Milwaukee household. Media representatives are encouraged to highlight these programs in an effort to direct children toward positive summer activities.

Milwaukee Recreation coordinates Summer Stars, the evening recreation program for teens. Free for youth between the ages of 13 and 17, Summer Stars will be open from 6-9:00 p.m. Monday-Thursday & select Saturdays from June 24 through August 7. Activities include sports leagues, enrichment classes, field trips, swimming, video games, weight training, teen chat, computer classes, and organized games. Summer Stars will be held at the following community centers: Brinton (2555 S. Bay St.), North Division (1011 W. Center St.), South Division (1515 W. Lapham Blvd.), Vincent (7501 N. Granville Rd.), and Washington (2525 N. Sherman Blvd.). For more information, see the inside back cover of the Summer Activity Guide or call (414) 475-8811.

Milwaukee Recreation's free summer playgrounds will open on June 23 for youth ages 5-17. The playgrounds provide supervised activities, including kickball, dodgeball, box hockey, champ bowling, basketball, field trips, craft projects, and more. Many playgrounds are also free lunch sites. On days when the temperature exceeds 85 degrees, the city of Milwaukee connects industrial-strength sprinklers to several playground fire hydrants to create Cool Spots. For more information, see page 26 of the Summer Activity Guide or call (414) 475-8811.

In addition to the free programs listed above, Milwaukee Recreation offers a wide assortment of low-cost activities. Popular programs include swim lessons, computer classes, art workshops, music, dancing, hair braiding, cheerleading, cooking, outdoor education, Summer Recreation Enrichment Camps (SREC), and Community Learning Centers. Every activity is carefully supervised and designed to allow youth to learn and grow in a safe, respectful environment. Everyone is welcome to participate, and accommodations will be made for individuals with disabilities.