Posted on 05/18/22
| News Source: FOX45
A Baltimore City Councilman is pushing for the city to put a recreation center in his district.
Councilman Isaac Yitzy Schleifer, who represents District 5 in Northwest Baltimore said his district is the only district in Baltimore without a recreation center.
Schleifer shared a Facebook post he posted back in 2018.
It reads: "At the Baltimore Rec n Parks budget hearing. I asked why over the years the 5th district has been the only district with no center."
"I've had multiple meetings with Rec and Parks about this issue and every year I'm told something is going to be different but as you saw from the post I shared from four years ago," said Schleifer. "Here we are fiscal year 2023. In five years they couldn't find a way to find equitable recreational access."
Schleifer called this an equity issue with the youth being the ones to suffer.
"Now that it's warm if you drive through the district you'll find kids playing in the streets," Schleifer said. "There are very few places for them to play, few green spaces or playgrounds."
FOX45 reached out to a spokesperson with the Department of Recreation and Parks but has not yet heard back.
"This year they're getting an additional $41 million," said Schleifer, speaking of the COVID relief dollars. "I'd like to see that money go towards equitable recreational opportunities for 5th district children."