Council President Celebrates Expanded Rec Center Hours: After Council Fight For Additional Allocation, Rec Centers Will Be Open Saturdays

Council President Celebrates Expanded Rec Center Hours

After Council Fight For Additional Allocation, Rec Centers Will Be Open Saturdays

BALTIMORE, MD (September 6, 2019) — Thanks to the leadership of Council President Brandon M. Scott, every recreation center in Baltimore City will be open on Saturdays starting tomorrow, September 7. The expanded hours come after Baltimore City councilmembers secured $3.4 in funding for the Department of Recreation and Parks this year, including $2.6 million in new dollars.

“Baltimore City rec centers played a big role in my life growing up. I am proud that my Council colleagues and I were able to fight for our youth in this budget,” said Council President Scott. “It’s important that young people in Baltimore have access to quality recreational opportunities on the weekends.” 

Baltimore’s recreation centers have not been open on Saturdays since the late 1970s. Now, Baltimore City recreation centers will be open Saturdays from 10am-6pm, while all B.A.L.T. (business, art, leisure, teamwork) centers will be open from 10am-11pm. 

In June, the Baltimore City Council approved an additional $2.6 million in funding for the Department of Recreation and Parks to keep recreation centers open on Saturdays. This summer, the Department of Recreation and Parks hired additional staff to accommodate the expanded hours. 

Fighting for seven-day recreation center access and investing in youth opportunity are objectives in the Council President’s Legislative and Policy Proposal. “Moving forward, I want to work with the City Council and Department of Recreation and Parks to find ways to keep our rec centers open all week long,” said Council President Scott. 

For information about your local recreation center, visit bit.ly/BCRPRecCenter.