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Mayor Extends Park Hours To Offer Safe Haven For Children
NAACP To Honor 6 Women For Positive Changes
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On Thursday, Mayor Bob Buckhorn announced the introduction of two sig- nificant initiatives. Both are geared toward offering youngsters a safe haven dur- ing the summer months.
The first pertains to ex- tending hours at several city operated parks and recre- ation centers. The nine tar- geted facilities are primarily in the East Tampa area.
Mayor Buckhorn said, “We have doubled the capac- ity of the summer camps and tripled the scholarships for those who are in need. But we have also realized that there is a void on weekends. We have these building available and it made sense to keep them open longer and give the kids an open, safe environment with good mentors and coaches and keep them away from the lure of the streets.
“This will keep hundreds of kids in a safer environ-
MAYOR BOB BUCKHORN
ment for the summer and it means that working single parents won’t have to leave them alone.”
The park hours will be ex- tended until midnight and activities will vary by loca- tion. Those activities will range from sporting activi- ties, such as basketball to in- door movie screenings. Pools will be open in a free swim environment.
Beginning on Friday, June 12th, Jackson Heights and Springhill Community Parks will remain open until mid- night on Friday and Satur- day nights.
Beginning Friday, June
19th, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Copeland Parks and their pool facilities will re- main open until midnight on weekends. Other facilities and additional week days will be added as staffing al- lows, with the goal of open- ing the listed facilities until midnight, 7 days a week, by the first week in July.
The city will also provide extra duty police officers and additional lighting at the designated parks and recre- ation centers. The young- sters participating will also receive snacks.
Free “Rec Cards”
Teenagers ranging be- tween the ages of 13 and 19 will be able to register for a “Rec Card” for during the summer by visiting any of the parks designated facili- ties after 6 p.m. The “Rec Cards” will be good for one year and will allow for access into facilities and program- ming, including free After School programs during the school year.
Designated Locations
The designated locations are: Martin Luther King, Jr., Park, Recreation Center, and Pool, 2200 N. Oregon Av- enue; Copeland Park, Recre- ation Center, and Pool, 11001 N. 15th Street; Cyrus Green Park and Pool, 2101 E. Dr. M. L. King, Jr., Blvd.; Desoto Park and Pool, 2617 Corrine Street; Grant Park, 3724 N. 54th Street; Jackson Heights Recreation Center, 3310 E. Lake Avenue; Springhill Park and Recreation Center, 1000 E. Eskimo Avenue; Williams Park and Pool, 4362 E. Osborne Avenue; and Woodland Terrace Park and Gwen Miller Recreation Center, 6410 N. 32nd Street.
Anyone interested in serv- ing as a sponsor for the pro- gram can contact Tampa Parks and Recreation Di- rector Greg Bayor at (813) 274-7726 or by email at Greg.Bayor@tampagov.net.
MS. JULIA JACKSON President and WIN Chairperson
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On Sunday, June 14th, the Hillsborough County Branch NAACP Women In the NAACP (W.I.N.) Committee will host its program honor- ing women in the Tampa community. The event will take place at New Mount Zion M. B. Church.
Entitled “500 Women In Black,” the event is de- signed to recognize women who have contributed to positive changes in their re- spective communities. The theme for the program is “Empowering to Change the Culture.”
Ms. Julia Jackson is the President and Chair- woman of the NAACP W.I.N. Committee. Rev. Dr. Pa- tricia Houser will serve as the Mistress of Ceremony. Dr. Barbara F. Wright will deliver the keynote ad- dress. Mrs. Carolyn Hill is
MS. CAROLYN HILL ... Honorary Chairperson
MS. CAROLYN STEWART ... Honoree
the Honorary Chairperson. Ms. Jackson said, “We are honoring some of the women in the community who have made a difference. We are also asking everyone to wear black for unity as we recognize and honor these women who have been ex-
emplary leaders in Tampa.” The honorees are: Dr. Wright, Mrs. Carolyn Stewart, Dr. Paulette Walker, Mrs. Charnell Williams, Mrs. Lucille Franklin, and Bishop
Michelle B. Patty.
PAGE 10-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2015