BALTIMORE, MD. (December 3, 2012) – Today Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake joined Councilman Edward Reisinger, Baltimore City Recreation and Parks (BCRP) and The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore (BCGMB) to celebrate the transition of the Brooklyn O’Malley Recreation Center to the Boys & Girls Club. The move is another step toward the Mayor’s Recreation Center Task Force Plan to improve centers and create real community assets. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore took over the management of the center from BCRP in September. This partnership agreement is part of the Mayor’s Recreation Center Task Force Plan that invests approximately $20 million building three new larger community centers and substantially renovates and expands another. BCRP will also expand 10 existing centers and add new staffing, programming and hours to 16 centers. “In 2010, we created a task force of community leaders to develop a plan to improve the programming offered at our recreation centers, and today we are seeing this plan in action,” said Mayor Rawlings-Blake. “We truly value our partnership with the Boys and Girls Club, and together we will have made a significant and positive impact on the children and families of the Brooklyn community.” “This new center is a shining example of how public-private partnerships can address the needs of Baltimore City’s youth,” says Ken Darden, CEO of BCGMB. “We’re excited about all the new programs that the children of this community can now take advantage of at Brooklyn O’Malley.” The facility is 7,500 square feet, consisting of a large multi-purpose room, small computer lab, dance studio and arts/crafts room. There is also a large outdoor field and play area. The Club currently has 100 members, and serves an average 75 members a day. Renovations are being planned and BGCMB is seeking private resources to help transform current space into a new Technology/Learning Center. The Department of Recreation and Parks has entered into several operating partnerships with organizations to provide recreation programing at eight recreation centers. All of the operators have committed to providing before and afterschool programming, community access for meetings and special events and senior activities, open gym and field sports activities, education enhancement programming, and technology programs for youth. The centers and community partners are:

• Brooklyn O’Malley –Boys and Girls Club,
• Furley – Youth Sports Program,
• Towanda – Park Heights Renaissance Corp.,
• Collington Square – Reclaiming Our Children and Community Project,
• Ralph J. Young – Living Classrooms,
• Lillian Jones - Reclaiming Our Children and Community Project,
• Easterwood – Omega Baltimore Foundation.

The Easterwood Recreation Center, which has been closed for many years, will celebrate its grand re-opening on Wednesday, December 5 at 4:00 p.m.