City Council sets hearing on violence at recreation centers

In an unusual move, Philadelphia City Council will hold a summer hearing Thursday on violence at recreation centers. The meeting comes after shootings and a rape at centers this spring and summer.

 

Recreation Commissioner Susan Slawson says Philadelphia recreation facilities are not dangerous. She says neighborhood violence spills into the centers.

“The fact that something happens across the street from a rec facility, it’s about a community issue, a neighborhood issue, not a rec facility issue,” she says. “It is about crime in general and what we are going to do in partnering with the police and everybody else involved to bring these numbers down.”

Slawson says this summer more children are coming to summer camp at recreation facilities.

“Our numbers have increased from last year,” she says. Last year there were about 8,600 summer campers; this year, attendance has passed 9,000.

“The community members understand that it’s a problem that we are dealing with together,” Slawson said.

The hearing is set for 9 a.m. Thursday in City Council chambers.