Middletown recreation unveils expanded summer programming and two‑meal feeding plan for youth

The City of Middletown’s recreation department announced expanded summer programming and a new two‑meal parks feeding pilot for youth during the council meeting.

Raelynn Berthof, superintendent of recreation, said the department will offer free and paid programs across ages, including teen and youth open gyms, storytime and sensory programs, sports clinics, senior activities and a summer kickoff party at Davidge Park. Pools will open for the season on Tuesday, June 30; as a one‑day special, the pool will have extended evening hours for the kickoff event.

On food access, Berthof said the department is trying a new approach to increase participation in the summer feeding program: for the first time the city will offer both lunch and dinner Monday through Friday at different park sites so youth can receive two meals daily. "This summer, the youth of Middletown can get a lunch meal and also a dinner meal at different sites throughout," Berthof said, adding that lunch sites and dinner sites are posted on the department’s Facebook page and that the program is funded through school-district arrangements that require meals be eaten on site.

Berthof explained operational details: lunches will be provided at Spurge Street and Fancher Davich Park (noon–4 p.m. at pool lunch spots) while dinners will be at Maple Hill and Beatty Hill Park (2–6 p.m.) to accommodate working families. She noted age rules apply: meals are for those under 18 and must be eaten on site per program funding rules.

The recreation superintendent also previewed free community events (a community bike ride in partnership with police and Bikeway and a Reservoir mountain‑bike program), senior trips and a Radio City bus trip, and said several youth and adult programs had filled quickly.

The city asked council members to share program flyers and noted staffing and operational details remain under departmental management.