Community Services stays busy

DOWNEY - The City of Downey Community Services Department, Recreation Division offers the "Safe Place to Play" after school youth program from September through June at Apollo, Dennis the Menace, Furman, Golden and Rio San Gabriel parks.The Monday through Friday outdoor program is designed for boys and girls six to twelve years of age. The recreation staff supervises the parks on weekday afternoons and conducts the afternoon activities which include homework help. Students bring their homework and the recreation staff assists the youth as needed. Other weekday activities include "soccer skills, sports r us, table top games and coloring craze." This October, the recreation staff conducted a Halloween party for the after school youth; candies and cookies were a part of the Halloween activities that included a craft and Halloween themed games. The staff also competed in a mural making contest for a Halloween themed sign board. The park staff worked with the "Safe Place to Play" youth to create the sign board using several types of arts and craft materials. The judging was conducted and the results were announced at the weekly recreation staff meeting. First place was Golden Park, second place was Furman Park, and other finishers were Dennis the Menace and Rio San Gabriel. The actual sign boards were on display weekday afternoons through Halloween at the four parks and photos were displayed at the Community Services Department at City Hall. In December during winter break, the "Holiday Haven" park program will be offered for ages 6 to 12 years of age from December 19 through Friday December 30. The program will be offered at the following parks: Brookshire, Dennis the Menace, Furman, Golden and Rio San Gabriel. The program hours are 12 noon to 5:00 p.m. and Brookshire hours are 12:30 to 4:30 pm. The recreation staff provides outdoor activities for the youth; the parents will register for this program at one of the parks on Monday December 19. Popular activities include arts and crafts, dodge ball, soccer, chalk art, sports, and other holiday themed activities such as snow man says, paper snowball fights and big art holiday decorating. On December 30 the parks will host a youth New Years Eve afternoon party. Some of the games to be offered are relays, confetti countdown, where the youth count down to the New Year and then toss the confetti into the air, and the 2012 New Year's resolutions during snack time. If you are interested in the above youth activities and park offerings please call the Community Services Department at (562) 904-7238 to receive additional information.

********** Published: November 03, 2011 - Volume 10 - Issue 29