City's summer recreation program is coming together

Benjamin Joe, Lockport Union-Sun & Journal, N.Y.
Updated ·2 min read

May 22—The summer 2024 youth recreation program is taking shape in two city parks.

According to Paula Travis, program director and confidential secretary to the mayor, the program will be operated in Altro Park and Outwater Park from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays, from July 1 through Aug. 16. At 8:45 a.m. each day, a van will be at Dolan Park, off Clinton Street, to transport neighborhood youths to Altro Park or Outwater Park; and transportation back to Dolan Park will be provided at the end of the day.

Activities will include arts and crafts, swimming and library time. Breakfast, lunch and snacks will be served at both sites.

Every Friday is Fun Friday, when all youths in the rec program meet up at Altro Park for a meal, kickball, karaoke and "just fun," Youth Board chair Kathryn Fogle said. Transportation from Outwater Park is provided. Business sponsorships of Fun Fridays — donors of hot dogs and ice cream for the youths — remain available.

Also on Fridays, youths will be sent home with a backpack filled with food for the weekend.

The youth board is also organizing:

— Touch-a-Truck at Outwater Park from 9 a.m. to noon July 27 with tractors, police vehicles and fire trucks, including Lockport Fire Department's ladder truck.

"We don't have the same people doing Touch-a-Truck this year, so I have talked to Baby Ribs and she will do hot dogs and ice cream for us at cost," Travis said.

— Movie nights, tentatively July 19 by Community Pool at Outwater Park and Aug. 2 at Altro Park. Funding for a projector and movie screen was donated by the Grigg Lewis Foundation, which also contributed board games and art supplies for the rec program.

— Swim lessons for youths aged 5 to 12 years, at Community Pool. Three sessions will be offered, all Monday through Friday: July 1 to July 19; July 1 to Aug. 2; and July 22 to Aug. 2. Advance registration is required and must be done by July 5. For the forms, call Mary Pat Filbert at 716-439-6659.

Anyone who's interested in being a rec program sponsor or volunteer should call Paula Travis at 716-439-6665.