Cleveland expands Near West Side youth and family programming
Cleveland families on the city's Near West Side may see a wider variety of recreational activities following the approval of an emergency ordinance, File No. 748-2026, which allows the Director of Parks and Recreation to contract with Ohio City Incorporated. This partnership is designed to provide diverse youth and family programming, including sports leagues, summer camps, and mindfulness activities.
What's in the file
The ordinance authorizes contracts with Ohio City Incorporated to implement the Near West Recreation Program. According to the program's scope of work, the initiative provides various athletic and community-building opportunities, such as:
- Soccer: A league featuring five coed divisions (U5 through U15) that includes practices, games, and opportunities for youth leadership through referee training.
- Volleyball: Coed divisions and a "Learn to Play" series for athletes ages 7–10, including community events like "Blacklight Volleyball Night."
- Tennis: A 5-week "Learn to Play" introductory clinic held at Jefferson Park.
- Summer Camps: Two weeks of themed camps held at the City Life Center focused on sportsmanship and teamwork.
- Family Yoga: Mindfulness-based sessions for children ages 4–9 and their families.
- Basketball: Multi-division leagues offering both recreational and competitive brackets.
The following table summarizes the program's impact and reach based on the most recent annual summary:
| Program Category | Metric | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Youth Participants | Total Served | 1,104 |
| Youth Sessions | Total Sessions | 1,043 |
| Volunteer Coaches | Total Coaches | 157 |
| Sports Programs & Activities | Total Programs | 7 |
| Special Events | Total Events | 11 |
Who may be affected
- Near West Side residents: Specifically youth and families seeking access to organized sports and community activities.
- Department of Parks and Recreation: The city department responsible for overseeing the service contracts.
- Ohio City Incorporated: The community development corporation tasked with executing the programming.
Status and timeline
This matter has seen several steps through the legislative process since it was first introduced. As we reported on 2026-10-19, the Finance Committee had previously recommended the ordinance for approval.
- 2026-09-14: The Municipal Services and Properties Committee recommended the ordinance for approval.
- 2026-10-13: The Workforce, Education, Training and Youth Development Committee recommended the ordinance for approval.
- 2026-10-19: The Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee recommended the ordinance for approval.
- 2026-10-19: City Council approved the ordinance.
Please refer to the official City of Cleveland legislative record to verify all details regarding this ordinance.
Source record
- File
- 748-2026
- Type
- Emergency Ordinance
- Status
- In Committee
- Committee
- Municipal Services and Properties Committee
- Introduced
- July 8, 2026
Official documents
- 748-2026-K w Ohio City incorporated for summer camp
- 748-2026-A File-K w Ohio City incorporated for summer camp
- 748-2026-Legislative Summary-Near West Recreation
- FINAL VERSION City Record October 30, 2026 Page 105