4 Baltimore City Recreation Centers Awarded Private Operators

BALTIMORE (WJZ)—   The Board of Estimates voted to award four Baltimore City recreation centers with private operators. The vote is a step forward for Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake's Recreation Center Task Force Plan. 

The plan calls for four new larger community centers, expanding 10 centers, and adding new staff, programs and hours to 16 centers. 

The Boys and Girls Club of Metropolitan Baltimore, Omega Baltimore Foundation Inc., and Reclaiming Our Children and Community Project Inc., have been approved to run Brooklyn O'Malley, Easterwood, Collington Square and Lillian Jones recreation centers, respectively.

During the past week, Baltimore City Recreation and Parks officials brought prospective vendors and the community together in a series of meetings. 

"It was important for community members to meet with the vendors," said Greg Bayor, director of BCRP. "We cannot do this alone. Collaborations allow us to enhance programs, maximize the number of centers that provide services and allow us to keep these services in the community."

A second round of request for proposals for management and operation of Baltimore City recreation centers has been posted and is now available for interested nonprofits and community-based groups.

The deadline is Jan. 25, 2012 at 11 a.m.

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