New Summer Youth Development Program Coming to Cleveland

Cleveland residents can look forward to enhanced summer programming for local youth through a new partnership between the city and Case Western Reserve University. City Council has passed emergency ordinance 614-2026, which allows the Director of Parks and Recreation to enter into contracts to provide a comprehensive summer program for 2026. This initiative, supported by the National Youth Sports Program at Case Western Reserve University, is designed to combine athletics with essential life skills and health education.

According to the 614-2026-Legislative Summary-NYSP, the program is set to run for a five-week period and is funded at an amount of $175,000. The curriculum uses sports competition as a way to promote healthy lifestyles, self-esteem, and respect for others while reinforcing the importance of education. Participants in the program will receive 64 hours of physical activity—including 11.5 hours of fitness—and 28 hours of educational programming. To support the students' wellbeing, the program also provides a medical examination, breakfast, and lunch. Beyond physical activity, the program includes field trips to various local institutions, such as the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Cleveland Botanical Gardens, and several facilities within Case Western Reserve University.

The ordinance has officially passed. Residents can watch for future updates regarding the specific summer 2026 schedules and enrollment details as the Department of Parks and Recreation prepares for the program's implementation.

Source record

File
614-2026
Type
Emergency Ordinance
Status
Passed
Committee
City Council
Introduced
May 7, 2026

View on Cleveland Legistar

Official documents

Sources