Mayor Elorza Announces EAT, PLAY, LEARN Summer Campaign City of Providence Kicks Off Summer Meals and Recreation Programming

PROVIDENCE, RI – Today, Mayor Jorge O. Elorza joined Superintendent of Parks and
Recreation Wendy Nilsson, Director of the Healthy Communities Office Ellen Cynar,
Superintendent of Providence Public Schools Christopher Maher, community partners
and residents for the official kick off of the EAT, PLAY, LEARN summer programming
campaign. The celebration also included performances by Len Cabral, Keith Munslow
and a reading from The Rhode Island Center for the Book.

«EAT, PLAY, LEARN is a one-stop-shop of engaging summer programming and access to
healthy, nutritional summer meals,» said Mayor Jorge Elorza. «Making sure that our
youth are spending their summers participating in outdoor, educational and
thoughtful programming means that our students will continue to build upon the
strides they make all school year long. By ensuring that these activities are free
or low-cost we are making sure that every child has tools they deserve to grow this
summer.»

EAT, PLAY, LEARN is a partnership between Mayor
Jorge Elorza’s Office, the Providence Healthy Communities
Office, the Providence Parks
Department, the Providence Recreation
Department, the Providence
Public School District and the Providence
Department of Arts, Culture, and
Tourism, that increases access to
high quality, affordable, and educational summer programs for youth in Providence.

EAT

The City of Providence Parks Department, in conjunction with the Rhode Island
Department of Education, serves free and nutritious meals to all children and teens,
18 and under through the Summer Meal Program, which ensures children receive healthy
meals when school is out. Last summer over 145,000 free summer meals were served to
Providence youth at recreation centers, parks and in collaboration with youth based
organizations and programming.

«Children need good nutrition all year long,» said Ellen Cynar, Director of the
Healthy Communities Office. «The summer meals program is critical to ensuring that
Providence youth have the food they need to stay active and healthy when school is
out.»

This year, Providence will serve lunches at 33 neighborhood parks, recreation
centers, pools and waterparks. Over 4,000 meals will be provided daily to Providence
children 18 years of age or younger. Meal service will run July 3 through August 18,
Monday through Friday. All City of Providence recreation centers will serve lunches
during inclement weather. Times and locations may vary or change, so parents and
families should call 2-1-1* to find a summer meal site in their neighborhood. Meals
must be eaten on-site.

The City of Providence’s Summer Meals will be served at the following locations and
times:

Elmhurst * Valley * Mt. Pleasant

* Fargnoli Park 12:00pm-2:00pm

Smith Street (Across from 950 Smith St.)

* George J. West Park 12:15pm-2:15pm

Chalkstone/ Mt.Pleasant Avenue

* Davis Park 11:30am-1:30pm

700 Chalkstone Avenue

* O’Brien Park 11:15am-1:15pm

Corner of Regent St./River Avenue
East Side

* Fox Point Park 11:45am-1:45pm

Wickenden Street (Across B/G Club)

* Billy Taylor Playground 11:30am-1:30pm

Camp Street (Across 135 Camp St.)
Federal Hill * West End

* Zuccolo Rec Center 12:15pm-2:15pm

18 Gesler Street

* Dexter Training Grounds 11:00am-1:00pm

73 Dexter Street

* Wiggins Village 11:15am-1:15pm

207 Cranston Street

* Codding Court PHA 11:30am-1:30pm

144 Dodge Street
Charles * Wanskuck * Smith Hill

* Selim-Rogers Rec Center 12:00pm-2:00pm

60 Camden Avenue

* General St./Prov Recreation HQ 11:45am-1:45pm

11 West Drive

* Chad Brown Waterpark 12:15pm-2:15pm

Chad Brown Street

* Metcalf Field 11:15am-1:15pm

Across from 200 Hawkins Street

* Corliss Park 11:00am-1:00pm

30 Corliss Street
South Side

* Ellery Park 11:00am-1:00pm

Ellery Street (Across 84 Ellery St.)

* Sackett St Rec Center 12:15pm-2:15pm

110 Sackett Street

* Harriet and Sayles Park 11:45am-1:45pm

199 Oxford Street

* Rollins Rec Center/Pool 12:00pm-2:00pm

674 Prairie Avenue

* Mattie Smith Playground 11:15am-1:15pm

Glenham and Taylor Street

* Pearl Street Playground 11:45am-1:45pm

Pearl and Providence Street

* Jennifer Rivera Park 11:30am-1:30pm

40 Niagara Street

* DHS Headquarters 10:45am-12:45pm

206 Elmwood Avenue

* Peace and Plenty :00am-1:00pm

Peace and Updike Street

* McGrane Pool (Bucklin Rec Center) 12:15pm-2:15pm

404 Dexter Street

* Davey Lopes Rec Center 12:00pm-2:00pm

227 Dudley Street
Olneyville * Hartford *Silver Lake

* Riverside Park 11:15am-1:15pm

50 Aleppo Street

* Donigian Park 10:45am-12:45pm

Valley Street

* Hartford Park 11:00am-1:00pm

Across 300 Hartford Avenue

* Joslin Park & Rec Center 11:30am-1:30pm

17 Hyat Street

* Neutaconkanut Rec Center 11:45am-1:45pm

675 Plainfield Street

* Manton Heights 12:30pm-2:00pm

21 Salmon Street

* Wallace Street Park 12:00pm-2:00pm

Corner of Wallace and Cumerford

PLAY

As part of the EAT, PLAY, LEARN series Mayor Elorza joined recreation centers last
month to kick off registration for Providence summer recreation opportunities. This
year, the City is offering numerous affordable camp opportunities for Providence
youth including sports, day, and specialty education camps. Providence Recreation
will provide nine (9) weekly sports camps ranging from basketball to golf, day camps
at nine (9) recreation centers offering a variety of fun activities and field trips,
and five (5) specialty camps with a focus on sailing, creative arts, nature, music
and dance, and biking.

«Play is an essential component for healthy and happy children. We are excited to
provide so many opportunities for children and families to explore our vast network
of parks and recreation facilities and play all summer long,» added Wendy Nilsson,
Superintendent of Parks and Recreation.

In addition to recreational programming, Providence residents are encouraged to
explore Providence Parks through PlayCorps, Fitness in
the Parks, the Park
Finder
and the Celebrate Providence! 2017 Neighborhood Performing Arts
Initiative.

LEARN

In March, Mayor Elorza announced expanded summer learning opportunities for
Providence students. The City of Providence partnered with the Providence Public
School District (PPSD), Breakthrough
Providence,
The BELL (Building Education Leaders for Life)
Foundation, PASA (Providence
After School Alliance), Generation Teach
to increase access to year round learning opportunities. In collaboration with the
Providence Community Library, all children who attend Providence Recreation Camps
will participate in literacy programming to help enhance reading skills. Last year,
84,460 minutes were read by the 199 participants with a goal to engage even more
students this year. Students are encouraged to use the Passport to Summer
Learning they received in school, or
download their own, to track their summer reading.

In addition to summer learning, Mayor Elorza believes that summer employment is
critical to building skills and ensuring job readiness. This City is offering 1,200
jobs to Providence youth, double the amount offered in 2016. Employment
opportunities from partner programs are still
available.

More information on summer meals, recreation opportunities and park programming can
be found at www.eatplaylearnpvd.com. For questions,
contact the Mayor’s Center for City Services at City Hall by dialing 3-1-1 or by
downloading the PVD311 mobile application now available on the Apple App Store and
Google Play.