News Release - Mayor Richards Urges City Youth to Take Advantage of Recreation Programs over Summer Months, Announces Start of Cool Sweep Season

City of Rochester

News Release

(Friday, June 24, 2011) – Mayor Thomas S. Richards marked the end of the school year Friday by urging youth to keep their minds and bodies sharp by taking advantage of the many summer programs that will be offered by the Bureau of Recreation starting next week. He also announced that the 2011 Cool Sweep season will begin Monday.

“We want our children to enjoy their summer breaks and cultivate the kind of memories that most of us adults recall with such fondness,” Mayor Richards said. “But we also want them to stay safe and healthy and maintain the academic progress they’ve made during the school year. That’s why we’re happy to provide these wonderful programs at our Recreation Centers. And when the temperature gets above 85 degrees, we’ll launch a Cool Sweep operation by extending the hours of our spray parks and pools and opening a few fire hydrants.”

“Youth who take advantage of our Recreation Centers will have no shortage of things to do and ways to keep their minds and bodies sharp this summer,” said Luis Burgos, Commissioner of the Department of Recreation and Youth Services (DRYS). “Each Center is a miniature summer camp available free of charge. We provide free nutritious meals with the help of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and offer a wide range of engaging activities and aquatic amenities. So if you want to stay sharp and stay cool this summer, spend it with City Recreation.”

More than 20 Recreation Centers across the city will begin their summer schedules and programs Monday, generally from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Activities at the centers include sports and games, arts and crafts, reading labs, brain teasers, field trips, nature outings and swimming and playing in spray parks.

Cool Sweep, the City’s annual public-safety and customer-service program to help city residents who have limited opportunities to find relief from summer heat, also starts Monday. A Cool Sweep operation is triggered when the forecast calls for a day to reach 85 degrees. Hours are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The operation employs the use of a cooling spray from fire hydrants and extended hours at City pools, spray parks and Durand Eastman Beach.

When temperatures exceed 90 degrees, the Cool Sweep program extends into City branch library locations where residents can stay in an air conditioned building. There will not be standardized opening times during the week, but closing times will be at 9 p.m. Saturday hours will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Also on Monday, DRYS will begin offering free summer meals for city youth ages 18 and under. Nineteen City Recreation sites will be open Monday through Friday for breakfast and lunch. (See the attached joint news release with the Rochester City School District for more information on this.)

The City’s aquatic amenities – pools, spray parks and Durand Eastman Beach – also began opening June 19 and will all be open by Monday. Free swim lessons are available through the Summer Swim Academy at several sites for city residents ages 6-18 during the summer (and the rest of the year). Go to www.cityofrochester.gov/swimlessons for information.

A complete list of Cool Sweep locations and Recreation Centers and pools with summer hours can be found at www.cityofrochester.gov/summerrec.

Recreation Centers will be closed July 4.

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News Media: For more information, contact Commissioner Luis Burgos at 428-6997.