The Dallas Parks and Recreation Department is proposing to cut back operating hours for recreation centers, including five centers in East Dallas. The changes are in line with the city’s overall budget cuts.
“Nothing is certain at this point,” said department spokesman Dave Stueber. But so far, the proposal is to cut hours at the Harry Stone, Samuell-Grand and Ridgewood/Belcher centers from 55 hours a week to 40 hours a week. The Exall and Ignacio Zaragoza centers would go from 40 hours a week to 30 hours a week. The larger centers would be open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Fridays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. They would be closed on the weekends.
The reduced hours likely would result in fewer programs, Stueber said. But he is focused on preserving after-school programs in all of the city’s 47 recreation centers. “We’ve got to take care of our kids first,” he said. “Even during the summer months.”
