By Tamas Mondovics
Summer break may be over, but the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department wants to remind residents that the excitement of fun, fitness and adventure does not have to end there.
Thanks to Rec2Six, a program that offers a full schedule of activities weekday afternoons for children K-5, is once again available. “Rec2Six joins America’s movement to raise a healthier generation of kids by encouraging healthy lifestyle-choices through physical activity and nutrition education,” said Kemly Jiménez Green, of the county’s communications department.
Open Monday through Friday from 2 p.m.-6 p.m., Rec2Six, which was the result of a conflict involving area residents who were hoping to see their local recreation centers remain open, can now be enjoyed at ten recreation centers throughout Hillsborough County.
Upon approval by the Hillsborough County Board of Commission, Rec2six was born a year ago initially operating at 19 locations with a weekly rate of $38, and reduced rates of $30 and $20 per week are available with a current school reduced or free lunch letter. But Green emphasized that while the program is being offered separate from the county’s current transitional after-school youth program, due to low enrollment numbers, starting this fall, Rec2six will continue to be offered at the 10 regional centers.
The nearest centers hosting the program include the Brandon Recreation Center, located at 502 E. Sadie St. in Brandon, as well as the Ruskin Recreation Center located at 901 6th St. in Ruskin.
“It will continue to work closely with the SPARK curriculum (Sports, Play and Active Recreation for Kids), which is an evidenced-based, outcome-oriented active recreation component,” Green said.
“The county will continue to evaluated the program to determine its viability resulting in a future decision whether to keep the programs at the currently offered locations,” Green said.
For more information, contact one of the above centers, or visit www.rec2six.org.
