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Parks and Recreation seeks council sign-off on $190,000 state youth-wage grant and previews summer programs
Summary
The acting director of Wilmington Parks and Recreation told the education committee the Department of Labor offered a $190,000 youth-wage grant that would fund wages for up to 300 young workers this summer and described camps, Play Streets and a youth-led summit on Aug. 14.
The Wilmington Department of Parks and Recreation told the Education, Youth and Family Services Committee on June 11 that it applied for and is seeking committee alignment on a $190,000 grant from the Delaware Department of Labor that would fund summer wages for city youth.
"The grant is for... the total grant which is $190,000 being offered from the Department of Labor. It funds wages only for the youth and specifically wages for up to 300 workers," Acting Director Dr. Melody Phillips said. She told committee members the awarded funds would pay youth at $15 an hour for up to 20 hours a week, with workforce-track assignments running eight weeks and traditional internships seven weeks.
Dr. Phillips asked the committee to align with the department's application so the city could accept and use the funds for summer youth wages; committee members indicated support and asked to be cosponsors on related items. Because the request took the form of a resolution to approve a grant application, staff advised the committee that the resolution did not require an immediate committee vote to move forward.
Beyond the grant, Dr. Phillips gave an overview of summer operations: camps for ages 6–13 (current enrollment at capacity with a waiting list), a fitness-in-the-parks program, Play Streets events across all eight council districts and a new youth entrepreneurship program planned for the fall. She announced the department's first youth-led "Next Level Youth Summit" on Aug. 14 at the Community Education Building and said the department will deploy mobile recreation units and pop-up programming this summer.
Council members asked about logistics for senior fitness at Herman Holloway Park during planned renovations; Dr. Phillips said she would confirm details and noted the department intends to retain existing fitness equipment where possible.
Ending: The committee added cosponsors and acknowledged the department's request; no committee-level rejection or alteration of the grant was reported.
