Connect at the Rec, a new program sponsored by the City of Akron for teenagers in grades 6-12, will provide recreational opportunities on five Friday nights beginning June 27 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Ed Davis Community Center (730 Perkins Park Dr. in Sherbondy Hill) or the Joy Park Community Center (825 Fuller St. in East Akron).

Teens can plan in an open gym, work on arts and crafts, enjoy a live DJ, food, giveaways, hair care services, a mobile gaming truck, community speakers and more. Akron Police and Akron Fire will be on site at both locations to interact with the kids.

“By providing our kids with somewhere to go to connect with their peers, enjoy their hobbies, and interact with community leaders,” said Akron Mayor Shammas Malik in a news release, “it keeps them engaged, safe, and having fun which is the goal for summertime!”

The goal of the program is to provide a safe and supportive environment for Akron’s kids this summer.

Dates for the rec nights are: June 27, July 11, July 18, Aug. 1 and Aug. 8. 

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The program is free, but registration at the door is required. Participants can arrive and register until 6 p.m., when the doors will close for the remainder of the programming. 

The Ed Davis Community Center can host up to 200 students, and Joy Park Community Center can host up to 150.

Each evening will start with a quick overview of expectations and a brief keynote speaker. 

Participants are then welcome to join any of the activities provided.  

Food service will begin at 7 p.m. — food offerings will vary each program night.  Transportation to and from the center must be arranged by parents/guardians.  The initiative is a collaboration between the Akron mayor’s office, the Akron Recreation and Parks Department, Akron Police Department and Akron Fire Department — the event sponsor is Ron Marhofer.

Other community organizations will be involved with collaborations and partnerships for program nights, including the Akron Urban League and Beyond Expectations Barber College.  

Editor-in-Chief (she/her)
Zake has deep roots in Northeast Ohio journalism. She was the managing editor for multimedia and special projects at the Akron Beacon Journal, where she began work as a staff photographer in 1986. Over a 20-year career, Zake worked in a variety of roles across departments that all help inform her current role as Signal Akron's editor in chief. Most recently, she was a journalism professor and student media adviser at Kent State University, where she worked with the next generation of journalists to understand public policy, environmental reporting, data and solutions reporting. Among her accomplishments was the launch of the Kent State NewsLab, an experiential and collaborative news commons that connects student reporters with outside professional partners.