Play Annapolis presses city on after‑school care, field space and Stanton Center plans

Play Annapolis representatives and Recreation & Parks staff appeared before the Housing & Human Welfare Committee May 29 to press for expanded after‑school care at several Title I schools, more field investment and clarity about Stanton Community Center renovations funded in part by a state grant.

Emily Thomasini, a Play Annapolis board member, said the group’s priorities include filling childcare gaps at Eastport Elementary, Tyler Heights and Georgetown East and addressing field shortages that hinder local youth sports. “Childcare is missing at three Title I schools in the city,” Thomasini said, noting limited dedicated space and staff as recurring obstacles.

Recreation & Parks Director Rosalind Johnson said the department runs five licensed after‑school sites in the city (Walter S. Mills Parole, Germantown, Hillsmere, West Annapolis and Annapolis Elementary) but currently lacks budgeted funding and licensed space at other schools. “Because we are licensed, our staff have to have 90 hours of dedicated childcare services,” Lakisha Simmons, a department staff member, told the committee. Simmons added that sites require a minimum of approximately eight registrants to operate and that some schools lack sufficient registration to run a program (Georgetown East registered one child last year).

The committee also reviewed Stanton Community Center renovation funding. Director Johnson said then‑Delegate (now Senator) Shanika Henson secured approximately $1.2 million in state capital funding for Stanton; that grant is for capital purposes and cannot be reallocated to operating childcare programs. Johnson said the capital work includes restrooms, entry upgrades, enhanced security and a new “electronic floor” (an esports-capable floor). She also described a separate operating initiative in the proposed budget — $80,000 labeled for “Esports Arena and gym” staffing — intended to add part‑time staff at Stanton so programming can expand.

Play Annapolis and committee members said they support Stanton renovations but urged attention to basic needs such as field maintenance and equitable distribution of after‑school services. Both sides discussed transportation; Recreation & Parks provides transportation to the Stanton after‑school program but said providing more school-based stops is constrained by available licensed space, staffing and registration. The department said there is no FY26 funding earmarked to add new licensed after‑school sites; staff said any new site would require dedicated space, trained staff and sufficient registrants before it could begin.

On youth football, Recreation & Parks presented plans for a city-run developmental football program aimed at younger or novice players that Director Johnson said would offer “playing time” and fundamentals rather than focus on winning. Stan Womack of Annapolis All Stars said his organization runs a longstanding, competitive program that currently has more than 400 registered participants and said the All Stars were not informed in advance that the department planned a competing program. Johnson said the two programs target different participants — the department’s program for novices and developmental play, and All Stars for competitive play — and that fields coming online (studies under way for two linear/artificial-turf fields) should expand available space.

Committee direction and next steps: members asked Recreation & Parks to provide clearer counts of current licensed capacity, waiting lists and the staff‑training pipeline; Play Annapolis asked for follow‑up on transportation coordination and scholarship/simplification of the department’s registration and scholarship systems. Members and staff agreed to continue discussions before any formal budget amendments were proposed.