MY PLACE to Give DPS Students Free Access to Neighborhood Recreation Centers
Denver Parks & Recreation announced that they will provide free recreation center memberships to approximately 28,000 students in 60 Denver Public Schools as part of a new program, MY PLACE.
Elementary and middle schools throughout the city have been assigned to neighborhood recreation centers. Denver Parks & Recreation staff will be meeting with schools and their students to announce the program.
“Our goal is to provide a place of fitness and fun to students throughout Denver,” said Kim Bailey, Manager of Denver Parks & Recreation. “Our recreation centers offer a wide variety of amenities that are available to all Denver residents, regardless of ability to pay. We have decided to take this core principle a step further and reach out to Denver’s youth in an unprecedented way.”
Students at the 60 pilot schools will be given a letter explaining the program for their parents, a certificate redeemable for a one-year free membership and a waiver that parents or guardians must sign. Parents and guardians are asked to bring their student to the neighborhood recreation center to redeem the certificate.
“While this program is designed for DPS students, we want and encourage families to get involved with their children,” said Daniel Betts, Deputy Manager of Recreation & Facility Services.
“DPS is very excited about the MY PLACE program,” said DPS Superintendent Michael Bennet. “This program is a perfect example of ongoing partnership activities between the City of Denver and our school district and the tremendous benefit our kids and families receive as a result.”
Denver Parks & Recreation worked with Denver Public Schools to identify the 60 schools that would participate in the program. Over the next year, Denver Parks & Recreation will track recreation center usage by the DPS students who are part of the program through a special tracking code.
“Our hope is that the program proves successful and we are able to grow it in future years to include more students,” Betts said.
To encourage participation, recreation staff will meet with the students to explain programs, announce new amenities and create excitement within the schools for their neighborhood centers.
“This program is seen as a partnership,” Bailey said. “We will actively work with the schools to keep awareness and excitement up for the students.”
Denver Parks & Recreation operates 29 recreation centers throughout the city, as well as 12 indoor pools and 16 outdoor pools. For more information, call City Services at 3-1-1.