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Baltimore Mayor Announces Plan for City Recreation Centers

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Breathing new life into city rec centers. It's a $136 million plan announced by mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

Mary Bubala has more.

In the past few years, she's closed centers down, renovated others, and now wants to do more.

It's a multi-year, multi-million dollar plan for new investments in rec centers throughout Baltimore City.

"In Cherry Hill and Kay Hill, we are set to break ground on new fitness and wellness centers later this year. This represents more than $49 million in new investments and we are just getting started," the mayor said.

Young volunteers hold up renderings of the vision for new and improved rec centers in neighborhoods across Baltimore.

Two years ago, the mayor shut down several rec centers as part of the plan.

The city used that savings to renovate other rec centers like the one in Morrell Park.

To continue that progress, the mayor wants to sell several city parking garages and use those funds to build and renovate rec centers, but she's still waiting on City Council approval.

"If you are going to stand in the way of this progress, it's time for us to step aside because we have to do better by Baltimore," Councilman Brandon Scott said.

The city is moving forward with renovations at the Rita Church Community Center in Clifton Park.

"As a resident of Darley Park, a resident who has lived and played in this park my entire life, I cannot tell you the emotion that I feel about what's happening here," community leader Mark Washington said.

The plan also includes having most rec centers stay open seven days a week with expanded hours.

If you'd like to see more on the rec center renovation plans, CLICK HERE.

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