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Group Unhappy With Mayor's Decision To Let Nonprofits Run Rec Centers

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A powerful grassroots group is calling on the mayor to reverse her decision to allow nonprofits to run some of the city's 55 recreation centers.

As Mike Schuh reports, that group says her plan will cause closures and they're going to protest Wednesday night.

It's quiet at the rec center in Govans, a quiet that could be permanent. The city has a plan to turn over as many as 25 rec centers to nonprofits but the city requires the groups to carry a $5 million insurance policy and demonstrate the ability to pay salaries, utilities and maintenance. So far, only seven bidders have stepped forward, offering to run 16 centers. If no one else applies by the end of the year, the centers will close.

The grassroots organization BUILD says that's not acceptable and will pack a hearing room in protest at Wednesday night's Park and Recs meeting.

"Look, we need to stop the train right now. We can not close recreation centers," said Rev. Glenna Reed-Huber.

BUILD says if any of these close, the mayor would be breaking a campaign promise she made to them to keep them all open.

"Yeah, she reneged on a promise," Reed-Huber said.

We asked the mayor to do an interview on this subject, but she did not have the time. Her press people sent over an email from Ryan O'Doherty reading, "Bishop Miles' work on the task force to restructure recreation centers was invaluable, but, now is not the time to retreat from tough choices that will improve opportunities for kids over the long run and pretend that the status quo—dilapidated building, too few staff and programs—is getting the job done. That's why the proposed plan invests in building four new community centers, expands 10 existing centers and adds new staff, programming and hours to 16 centers. We need community organizations that care about kids to step-up in new ways to support recreation for kids because government can't do it alone."

Her task force calls for a restructuring with new additional staff and longer hours at 16 centers, an expansion at 10 centers and four centers be built from the ground up.

"I think there needs to be some more time because closing the rec centers on Dec. 31 is not going to solve the problem," Reed-Huber said.

That protest will be at the hearing room at the Park and Rec Headquarters in Druid Hill Park.

This is the information Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake's team sent WJZ:

"Community Centers: Will you create 55 high quality community centers so that all neighborhoods have access to recreation?
YES, I am in favor of more community centers. In contrast, my opponents have proposed reckless economic policies that would cut city revenue by up to $400 million, forcing devastating cuts to community centers, schools, youth programs and public safety. I look forward to working with BUILD as well as its coalition and partners in protecting Baltimore's youth from dangerous economic plans that would destroy our city and harm our young people.

My Administration continues to implement a real and achievable plan to improve the city's network of recreation centers. In July 2010, we convened a Mayor's Recreation Center Task Force and based on the Task Force Report, Recreation and Parks developed a comprehensive plan to create a network of high-quality facilities and programming.

Under the comprehensive plan:

1. The City will construct three (3) new community centers (and substantially renovate/expand one (1) center at a total cost of $14.8 million). Staffing levels will be increased from approximately one to four staff to four to six full-time and one or two part-time staff (based upon seasonal demand). Hours will be increased during the week from 1 p.m-8 p.m. to 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Hours will also be added on Saturday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. All these centers will see an overall increase of 34 operational hours per week.

2. The City will transform and expand 10 existing recreation centers into new community centers. Staffing levels will be increased from approximately one to four staff to four to six full-time and one or two part-time staff (based upon seasonal demand). Hours will be increased during the week from 1 p.m-8 p.m. to 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Hours will also be added on Saturday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. All these centers will see an overall increase of 34 operational hours per week.

3. The City will significantly enhance up to 16 existing recreation centers by making building repairs, increasing staff levels and improving programming options. Staffing will be increased from approximately one to four staff to three to five full-time and three or four part-time staff (based upon seasonal demand). Hours will be increased during the week from 1 p.m.-8 p.m. to 8 a.m.-8 p.m. In certain cases, seasonal Saturday hours may also be added. All these centers will see an overall increase of 25 operational hours or more per week."

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