Fun in the Sun: Summer Play at City of St. Louis Recreation Centers

By Akima Garner, Washington University Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement 2026 St. Louis Fellow

In City of St. Louis neighborhoods, recreation centers serve as one of the most important spaces for summer exploration and stability for the youth. Rec centers have opened their doors this summer to free programs for children ages 6-13, offering swimming, dodgeball, boxing, basketball, reading, access to computer labs, and much more.

Staff members across the centers are leading games, teaching new skills, and creating safe environments where children and youth can spend their time productively. Beyond sports and play, city youth stay engaged academically and socially. 

Buder Recreation Center student showing excitement.

“It’s fun and like a safe haven for a lot of kids here. This is like a second home; coming to camp provides them with clothes, food, and resources beyond recreation,” said Recreation Supervisor II, Dana Moorehead. 

Free programs are especially important for neighborhoods where access to paid camps or private summer activities are expensive and limited. Not just for the youth, but also for the volunteers and workers who want to make a difference in their community over the summer.

Through support from the Community Development Administration (CDA), these centers are receiving continued investment aimed at preserving and improving the spaces that make these very programs possible. The federal Community Development Block Grant program, administered locally by CDA, supports salaries for rec center employees, funds and equipment, and is being used to fund much-needed roof replacements at Wohl, 12th and Park, and Buder rec centers. 

Summer Fun Day student showing excitement playing at Anne O'C. Albrecht Nature Playscape in Forest Park. 

Investing in Recreation, Empowering Youth

CDA is investing in recreation centers so children have safe, welcoming places to learn, play, and grow. Through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, the City is improving facilities and creating spaces that strengthen neighborhoods for families year-round.

The ARPA for the Arts initiative, in partnership with the Regional Arts Commission (RAC), brought Wohl Recreation Center a vibrant new mural that celebrates the indigenous history of Sherman Park, where the Cote Brillante Indian mound once stood. The mural, titled “Still Standing” by local artist Gonz, creates a welcoming space that reflects neighborhood pride and the historic namesake of Cote Brilliante Ave. (French for “Brilliant Side” or “Shining Hill”), which borders the north edge of the park. 

“Still Standing” ARPA For The Arts Mural outside of Wohl Recreation Center.

Using CDBG funding, recreational centers Buder, Wohl, and 12th & Park are receiving roof repairs and structural improvements. Improvements like a repaired roof create long-term effects of preventing closure, damage, and ensuring that activities do not disappear during the moments it is needed most. While less visible than murals,  these repairs are essential for the continuation of camp and recreation center activities safely and consistently for years to come.

Bids for the rec center roof repairs were collected by CDA in November 2025. Work is beginning soon, and all projects are expected to be complete by the end of 2026. 

Roof of Buder Recreation Center. 

Looking Forward

Every roof repaired, staff position supported, and community improvement funded helps ensure that recreation centers remain cornerstones of St. Louis neighborhoods. Through strategic investments in both people and places, CDA is ensuring that children have safe places to learn, play, build friendships, and stay active. By strengthening the spaces where communities gather, CDA is helping create healthier neighborhoods and brighter futures for generations to come.