BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Kids in Baltimore have a new safe place to play. The city begins overhauling its aging recreation centers.

Adam May reports.

Let the games begin again at the Furley Recreation Center.

Three years after the building in Northeast Baltimore was closed, it reopened under a new plan.

“It’s important from the age of six and up,” Councilman Brandon Scott said.

Scott says these rec centers help children channel responsibility and passion into other parts of their lives. The mayor agrees.

“We’ve been moving toward a model of high quality community centers and rec centers to serve the citizens of Baltimore,” said Mayor Rawlings-Blake.

Her $19 million plan calls for four new and improved mega recreation centers. Four old ones in the city are shutting down.

The remaining centers like Furley stay open–many spruced up with new operator agreements.

“When the community itself takes ownership and runs the program, they are connected with the young people. That is what makes these so successful, and we’re going to duplicate that throughout the city,” Scott said.

Under the plan, staffing and hours will increase at most rec centers.