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Cincinnati Rec Centers Expanding Hours, Teen Programs

Tana Weingartner
/
WVXU

The Cincinnati Recreation Commission is expanding hours at some rec centers to give teens more options. Interim director Steve Pacella says the pilot program will start with seven centers and provide targeted teen programming.

He says the idea is to give teens something positive to do.

"This is the greatest place to do it, in a recreation center where our staff has the expertise to provide the great guidance and programming necessary to be successful in life."

Extra police officers will be assigned to hang out and mingle with the teens.

If successful, the program could be extended to other rec centers and open up school gyms in communities without neighborhood rec centers.

The city is covering half of the $5,000 price tag. The rest was put up by a private donor.

New Hours:

During the school year, rec centers will be open until 9 p.m. on week days. Saturday hours will be noon to 5 p.m. Pacella says special programming targeted to teens will be from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. on weekdays and all day on Saturdays.
 

Details from the CRC:

The following 7 Recreation Centers will be open from 12:00-5:00 p.m. on Saturdays beginning Saturday, August 15, 2015: for An 8-week Pilot Program

  • Millvale Recreation Center 3303 Beekman St. 45225
  • Lincoln Recreation Center 1027 Linn St.  45203
  • Price Hill Recreation Center 959 Hawthorne Ave. 45205
  • Winton Hills Recreation Center 5170 Winneste Ave. 45232
  • Bush Recreation Center 2640 Kemper Lane 45206
  • Evanston Recreation Center 3204 Woodburn Ave. 45207
  • Hirsch Recreation Center 3630 Reading Rd. 45229

There will also be 4 City Wide Teen Socials (some specifically for girls only) – Details TBA

Senior Editor and reporter at WVXU with more than 20 years experience in public radio; formerly news and public affairs producer with WMUB. Would really like to meet your dog.