Hampden Residents Protest Possible Recreation Center Closing

UPDATE (12:22 p.m.) — Chants of “save our rec,” honking car horns and the laughter of children filled the air at the intersection of West 36th Street and Falls Road Wednesday evening.

Hampden residents gathered at the intersection to protest the possible closing of recreation centers throughout the city, but especially their beloved Roosevelt Recreation Center.

The Roosevelt Recreation Center is one of 46 the city is hoping to find partners to run or take over as budget woes continue. If the city is unable to find partners to run the recreation centers, they could be closed.

The original deadline for organizations to respond to the city’s request for proposals to partner to run a recreation center was Wednesday. But according to the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks, the deadline to respond to the request for proposal has been extended to Oct. 12.

Ted Kenny, 51, and Mike Egbert, 34, both lifetime Hampden residents, are members of the local Ravens Roost that donated 100 pairs of roller skates to the center. The pair held signs protesting any possible closure of the recreation center and were upset that officials would even consider closing Roosevelt.   

“It keeps kids off the street, for one, and both my daughters have attended functions up here,” Kenny said.

Michele Maszon, 42, spent much of her childhood participating in activities at the center. Although she doesn’t have children, she said neighborhood families need the recreation center.

“This keeps them occupied. Their parents don’t have worries with them here,” Maszon said. 

Councilwoman Belinda Conaway, D-District 7, attended the protest and said the city’s requirements for partnering to run a center are too stringent.

If an organization like the Roosevelt Recreation Council couldn’t meet the requirements to run a center, the outlook for centers in less stable neighborhoods in her district is very bleak, she said.

“This is one of the most viable rec centers in the 7th District,” Conaway said.

Requirements for an operator to take over a recreation center include providing up to $2 million in liability insurance, $2 million of sexual abuse insurance, as well as providing $120,000 for salary and benefits for two employees at the center.

Other North Baltimore centers, for which the city is seeking partners, include the Medfield Recreation Center, the Barclay Recreation Center, the Walter P. Carter Recreation Center and DeWees Recreation Center.

Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke, D-District 14, also attended the protest but said she was more optimistic than most about the future of the center.

“I don’t think the city of Baltimore would close the rec center,” Clarke said.