By Terry Cords

Activities at our local recreation centers are picking up and getting busy for the 2016 summer season. Kids are out of school and there is no better place for youth activity than the San Carlos Recreation Center or the Allied Gardens Recreation Center for healthy and constructive activities for our youth. There are also numerous activities for adults and seniors.

San Carlos – Lake Murray Recreation Center and Recreation Council News

This summer, the San Carlos Recreation Center is offering a number of activities including “Pee Wee Sports” (different sports games each week include basketball, soccer, tee ball and more), “Gymnastics and Tumbling,” “Ballet and Introduction to Dance,” and “AYOP Tae Kwon Do,” in addition to basketball and volleyball programs. The Parks Fit San Diego 2016 Challenge is offered, as are Civic Dance Arts.

For moms and dads, we offer “Parents Night Out” the second Friday of each month. This program is for children 6 – 12 years and goes from 5 to 9 p.m. and gives parents a chance for a night out on their own. Cost is $10 per child and includes dinner.

Camp Coyote offers day camp for children through Aug. 26. Hours are 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Extended hours are available. The camp includes arts, sports, games, cooking, weekly field trips and more.

The inaugural “Movie in the Park” will be held Aug. 6 beginning at dusk. This family-friendly event is free. The featured film is “Ferngully.” There will be organized activities starting at 5 p.m. Limited snacks and beverages will be available. Please bring your blanket and/or lawn chair to enjoy the movie with us. We hope to make this an annual event.

The San Carlos Recreation Council May meeting included the sad news that we lost our friend and most recent council chairman John Pilch to cancer. John served as council chair for the past four years and provided the community with strong and positive leadership and representation. He will be missed.

The Recreation Council elected new board members for the following positions: Terry Cords (chair), Jay Wilson (vice chair), Greg Gross (treasurer) and Lonny Mitchell (secretary). The next meeting is July 20.

For greater details on programs, visit the San Carlos Recreation Center website at sandiego.gov/parks-and-recreation/centers/recctr/sancarlos and scroll down to the “Program Guide” to get hours of operation, types of programs offered, scheduled dates, times and costs of the programs being offered this summer. There are many healthy activities being offered for people of all ages. Center Director Kristy Wells and her staff are always ready to help and assist with your recreation needs by calling 619-527-3443. Or just drop in to the center at 6445 Lake Badin Ave.

Allied Gardens Recreation Center and Allied Gardens Pool

Center Director Faamalo “Malo” Lutu, Assistant Center Director Ashley Josephson and Allied Gardens Pool Manager Dominic Mangiapane oversee a staff of 11 Recreation Center personnel (recreation leaders and Ground Maintenance Personnel) who are dedicated to providing the community the best activities the city of San Diego has to offer.

There is a lot going on at the Recreation Center this summer. The 2016 Summer Basketball and Volleyball Fundamental Camps have started; the second sessions are still available, starting in late July and/or early August. The San Diego Youth Camp is open and taking registrations for ages 5 – 14. Campers will participate in arts, crafts, indoor/outdoor games, team building, brain teasers, swimming and much more. Daily drop-ins are available on most weekdays.

Also offered are the following programs: Craft N’ Creations, Tiny Tots Reading Lots, Dance to Evolve, San Diego Civic Dance Arts, Aryn’s Hatha Yoga, Parks Fit San Diego 2016, Book Nook, Allied Gardens Teen Center, free play badminton, basketball and pickle pall. Coming soon are coed youth volleyball and coed flag football.

“Parents Night Out” is held on the third Friday each month, 5 – 9 p.m. Cost is $10 per child and includes dinner.

Each first Friday evening this summer there is a free open-air music concert sponsored by the Grantville – Allied Gardens Kiwanis and the Allied Gardens – Grantville Community Council.

“Movie in the Park” will be held on July 16. The movie starts at dusk and is free of charge.

The Summer Lunch program start July 25 and runs through Aug. 19. It’s open to anyone age 1 – 18 years of age at no charge. Lunch time is noon – 1 p.m. and snack time is 3:30 – 4 p.m. There will be a BBQ on Aug. 5 starting at noon. The Summer Lunch program is offered in partnership with the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD).

The May 2016 Allied Gardens Recreation Council meeting featured a presentation by the Parks and Recreation Planning Department and the San Diego Unified School District of a plan for the addition of turf on the athletic field at Marvin Elementary School, 5720 Brunswick Ave. The Planning Department and SDUSD were seeking input from the public on the project. The next meeting on this matter will at the September Recreation Council meeting.

For greater details, visit the Allied Garden Recreation Center website at sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/centers/recctr/allied and scroll down to the “Program Guide” to get hours of operation, types of programs offered, scheduled dates, times and costs of the programs being offered for the Summer of 2016. There are lots of healthy activities for interested people of all ages!

Allied Gardens Recreation Center is located at 5155 Greenbriar Ave.; phone 619-235-1129. Allied Gardens Pool is located at 6707 Glenroy St.; phone 619-235-1143.

—Terry Cords is chair of the Allied Gardens Recreation Council.