Play in the Park and Summer Food Service Program to Offer Free Meals and Activities for Kids

The New Bedford Parks, Recreation & Beaches Department will continue its annual tradition of the Play in the Park and Summer Food Service programs to offer fun activities and healthy meals for kids ages 18 and under at 24 parks, playgrounds, and housing sites across the city free of charge. The program will run July 5 through Aug. 26, 2016 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday through Friday.

Each site will be staffed by local youth to hand out nutritious lunches and host recreational, arts and crafts, and educational activities for children. Two kick-off events will take place on July 6 at Gomes School Playground from 11 a.m to 2 p.m. and July 8 at Riverside Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Both events will include special family activities.

The summer programs are federally funded through the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Community Development Block Grant with support from Project Bread. The Department of Parks, Recreation & Beaches will partner with community organizations to bring a variety of activities to each site. There will be five rainy day sites open throughout the city to ensure access to meals throughout the summer. A complete list of sites can be found at www.newbedford-ma.gov/parks-recreation-beaches/

Last year the Department of Parks, Recreation & Beaches served over 92,000 free meals to children and has received awards over the last two years for statewide recognition of its continued outstanding achievement in providing the Summer Food Service Program in New Bedford. For more information regarding the Play in the Park and Summer Food Service Program contact Alexandrea Matthews at Alexandrea.Matthews@newbedford-ma.gov, or call (508) 961-3015.