Mayor: summer community centers, pool upgrades drew heavy use; city planning phase 2 and 3

Mayor Steven L. Reed said on his podcast that Montgomery's summer programming at community centers and public pools has seen strong participation and that the city is planning further investments to expand programming.

"We are proud of so many people who helped us do that, who are helping us have a successful summer programming," Reed said, describing full and crowded sessions at centers that offered arts and crafts, field trips, swimming and supervised activities.

Nut graf: Reed tied the summer programs to a broader approach to youth engagement and violence prevention, saying recreational and educational opportunities help provide alternatives to street activity.

Reed said the city has poured "millions of dollars" into the centers (amount cited by the mayor on the episode) and is already talking about "phase 2 and phase 3" to build new centers and add programming for both youth and adults, including financial literacy, health and wellness and faith-based courses.

He described why pool access matters for equity: many residents lack a backyard or private-club pool. "We have to do a better job of providing some of those opportunities for recreation," Reed said.

On implementation, Reed said some summer programs were ending this week or next and that the city will expand offerings based on community feedback. He did not announce specific new center locations or a funding appropriation during the podcast.

Ending: Reed said the city will continue investing in centers and programming and noted that further phases will be planned and announced through the mayor's office and relevant city departments.