By Akima Garner, Washington University Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement 2026 St. Louis FellowIn City of St. Louis neighborhoods, recreation centers serve as one of the most important spaces for summer exploration and stability for the youth. Rec centers have opened their doors this summer to free programs for children ages 6-13, offering swimming, dodgeball, boxing, basketball, reading, access to computer labs, and much more.Staff members across the centers are leading games, teaching new skills, and creating safe environments where children and youth can spend their time productively. Beyond sports and play, City youth stay engaged academically and socially. Buder Recreation Center student showing excitement “It’s fun and like a safe haven for a lot of kids here. This is like a second home; coming to camp provides them with clothes, food, and resources beyond recreation,” said Recreation Supervisor II, Dana Moorehead. Free programs are especially important for neighborhoods where access to paid camps or private summer activities are expensive and limited. Not just for the youth, but also for the volunteers and workers who want to make a difference in their community over the summer.Through support from the Community Development Administration (CDA), these centers are receiving continued investment aimed at preserving and improving the spaces that make these very programs possible. The federal Community Development Block Grant program, administered locally by CDA, supports salaries for rec center employees, funds and equipment, and is being used to fund much-needed roof replacements at Wohl, 12th and Park, and Buder rec centers. Summer Fun Day student showing excitement playing at Anne O’C. Albrecht Nature Playscape Investing in Recreation, Empowering YouthCDA is investing in recreation centers so children have safe, welcoming places to learn, play, and grow. Through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, the City is improving facilities and creating spaces that strengthen neighborhoods for families year-round.The ARPA for the Arts initiative, in partnership with the Regional Arts Commission (RAC), brought Wohl Recreation Center a vibrant new mural that celebrates the indigenous history of Sherman Park, where the Cote Brillante Indian mound once stood. The mural creates a welcoming space that reflects neighborhood pride and the historic namesake of Cote Brilliante Ave. (French for “Brilliant Side” or “Shining Hill”, which borders the north edge of the park. ARPA Funded For The Arts Mural Outside of  Wohl Recreation CenterUsing CDBG funding, Recreational Centers Buder, Wohl, and 12th & Park are receiving roof repairs and structural improvements. Improvements like a repaired roof creates long-term effects of preventing closure, damage, and ensuring that activities do not disappear during the moments it is needed most. While less visible than murals,  these repairs are e 

Author