City works around MLK rec center closure for summer programs

Justin Kline

7 years ago

As Plant City eagerly awaits the construction of the city’s new community center, the Recreation and Parks Department has had to work around one problem: how to accommodate kids from the MLK Recreation Center into the Planteen center.

Though the ball fields at the MLK rec center are still usable, the building itself is on the brink of being demolished to make room for the new center. Luckily for those who participate in the city’s youth programs at the MLK center, the Recreation and Parks Department is making sure they’ll have somewhere to go in the summer.

Both rec centers have been used for the city’s annual Summer Youth Program, a nine-week program that gives kids age 6-15 a place to play sports, make arts and crafts, go on field trips and more. With the MLK center out of commission, the initial plan is for kids in that area to go to the Planteen rec center on Dort Street.

OTHER SUMMER OFFERINGS

The city is also promoting a pair of summer sports camps at the Plant City High School gymnasium, 1 Raider Place.

The 2018 Summer Basketball Clinic lets kids age 6-14 learn fundamentals of the game with the Plant City Raiders’ players and coaching staff, and they’ll also get to play in scrimmages. The cost is $115 per child per camp. The first camp will take place from June 4-7 and the second will be held from July 9-12. Both run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call Billy Teeden at 813-967-7551.

The 2018 Summer Cheerleading Clinic is for kids age 4-13 and offers in-depth lessons with coach Karen Snapp and the PCHS cheerleaders. The camp will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 17 and 18 and costs $75 per child. For more information, call Snapp at 813-757-9370 or email karen.snapp@sdhc.k12.fl.us.

The Recreation and Parks Department is also hosting open gym sessions at PCHS for all ages, though parents must fill out emergency contact information for those under 18. From June 11 through July 19, kids age 8-17 can use the gym from 12 to 5 p.m. and those 16 and older can use it from 5 to 9 p.m., with the exception of July 9-12 and July 17-18. For more information, call the Recreation and Parks Department at 813-659-4255.

Program Manager Deborah Haldane said the department is expecting an increase in enrollment for 2018, despite the loss of one rec center. The department expects roughly 200 kids to participate in the program, which Haldane said is similar to what the Planteen rec center was able to fit before the 2008 economic recession.

“We are pretty much planning to use it the same way we always have. Before 2008 the crash, we had a lot of kids at Planteen,” she said.

Haldane said there is a possibility of another venue being added to make up for the loss of the MLK rec center. She said the department is trying to work with the Hillsborough County School Board to host program events at Marshall Middle School, which would help families nearer to the MLK rec center — Marshall is located right across the street.

In addition to the usual slate of indoor and outdoor activities, this year’s program will have additional offerings for teens, field trips to Aquatica and the Orlando Science Center and a continuation of last year’s STEM-focused Discovery activities.

This year’s program will begin June 4 and continue through August 3. Haldane said 30 kids were registered at the Summer Youth Program registration kick-off on March 24 and there has been a steady influx of enrollments since then. The cost to enroll in the program is $375 per child and the fee covers the cost for shirts, field trips and transportation and other program costs. For more information, call the Planteen rec center at 813-659-4256.