The city is hoping that key skills like riding a bike, gardening, and learning to swim can be part of an essential summer experience for city kids ages 7-14. That’s the idea behind several Sports Centers now up and running, including four in Dorchester and Mattapan.
Mayor Wu and Parks Commissioner Ryan Woods brought attention to the free centers during a visit to Mattapan’s Almont Park last week.
“This is important because we want to make sure that every child in Boston will not only get a world-class education and everything that goes with school and academics, but also they’ll get a chance to experience what it is to be a whole person,” said Wu.
In addition to in Almont Park, the programming is available each weekday at Garvey Park, Ronan Park, and White Stadium in Franklin Park. The six-week program started on July 5 and will run through the end of the third week in August. There are no sign-ups, and the schedule is flexible.
Wu and Woods said the five elements of the centers are to make sure every kid has a chance to learn to swim, to learn to ride a bike, to experience the arts, to engage in youth sports, and to learn about nature/gardening.
“We are making sure Boston is the best place to raise a family,” said Woods. “The way to do that is to teach children these five different things. They can come here every day, or they can drop in for a few hours.”
While riding a bike, swimming, and gardening will be priorities on the menu, Wu and Woods said kids at the Sports Centers would be exposed to archery, lacrosse, basketball, baseball, and other activities daily.
