Grand Opening of the City of Orlando’s Downtown Recreation Center Expands Services for Parramore Residents
On Tuesday, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer joined District 5 City Commissioner Shan Rose for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the newly renovated Downtown Recreation Center. This upgraded facility is home to the city’s first drop-in center to support young residents in Parramore, ages 14 through 19, and marks a significant milestone in the city’s commitment to empowering young adults in the community.
The space offers enrichment programs including tutoring, mental health support, financial literacy, career guidance and culinary classes, along with two game rooms, a movie room and a computer lab. The building has undergone an extensive renovation with improvements including:
- Refinished gym flooring
- A new roof and HVAC system
- Upgraded locker rooms, showers and bathrooms
- New flooring and lighting
The recreation center holds special significance for local resident Sasha Mills, a former Parramore Kidz Zone (PKZ) student who has returned to the community and taken on a pivotal role at the Downtown Recreation Center, where she will continue her mission of helping youth and fostering an environment for growth and development. Growing up in Parramore, Sasha earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Central Florida’s Downtown Campus and previously worked as a Student Advocate for elementary students in both Parramore and Holden Heights neighborhoods.
Launched by Mayor Dyer in 2006, Parramore Kidz Zone (PKZ) was Orlando’s first Kidz Zone and has been improving the well-being of children in Orlando’s highest poverty neighborhood for more than a decade. Orlando Kidz Zones aim to reduce juvenile crime, teen pregnancy and high school drop-out rates in Orlando neighborhoods by investing in youth development, education and after school programs to help Orlando students set goals toward a successful future. In 2023, all four Kidz Zones served more than 2,400 students, growing outreach by seven times with the expanded program.
The Downtown Recreation Center will open to youth in the neighborhood after school on Monday, September 30, 2024.
