The City of Cleveland and Cleveland Foundation today announced that an $80,000 foundation grant will keep four city recreation centers open until 11 p.m. four nights a week throughout the summer, starting on June 18.

The “Cleveland Nights” program, launched in 2012 with a grant from the Cleveland Foundation,  supported extended hours and special programming at four city rec centers over the past two summers. More than 22,000 adults and young people have taken advantage of the “Cleveland  Nights” program.

“This grant from the Cleveland Foundation will provide a safe place for youth to be where they  will have organized activities that will ensure hours of fun during their summer break,” said  Mayor Frank G. Jackson.  The four city rec centers that are part of the “Cleveland Nights” program are: Cudell (1910 West Blvd.), Glenville (680 E. 113 St.), Lonnie Burten (2511 E. 46 St.) and Zelma George (3155 MLK Jr. Blvd.). The centers will remain open until 11 p.m. every Wednesday through Saturday  beginning June 18 through August 9.

Each rec center will have midnight basketball leagues for the youth, as well as game room activities and swimming programs. “In 2012, our board of directors approved a grant to extend rec center hours as a way of keeping  more young people positively engaged over the summer months,” said Robert E. Eckardt, executive vice president of the Cleveland Foundation.

“We are thrilled with the number of young people who have taken advantage of this program and hope that even more will participate in this safe and free neighborhood activity this summer.”

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