WASHINGTON — The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is making efforts to give kids and their families something fun to do in a safe space. DC Police partnered with the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) for their Late Night Hype — it’s essentially one big party for the community but the meaning runs deeper than that.
“It’s lit,” several kids screamed.
Local officials are teaming up to beat the streets. Mayor Muriel Bowser, the DPR, and the MPD added the collaboration to the target youth and families. The first event took place at the Barry Farm Recreation Center and Aquatic Center in Southeast.
“It’s just something to do outside of our regular team sports and stuff like that,” mom Jasmine Brown said.
Brown and her 11-year-old son live nearby the Barry Farm Recreation center and are hype to have this late night function Friday.
“They help us stay safe and I like people helping the community, so that’s really cool," 11-year-old Giare Holley said.
Friday’s event is kicking off this summer series. They’re hosting families and giving them something fun to do.
“We speak to young people, and we hear ‘we want more, there’s nothing to do.’ That’s not true, there’s always something to do,” DPR Interim Director Thennie Freeman said. “And fun happens safely at our recreation centers, and we want our young people to understand that and experience that.”
The nighttime carnival-style event includes an open pool, a live DJ, music, bouncy houses, food, video games, talent shows and more. The goal is for the two agencies to come together to take Late Night Hype to a new level of fun and safety. The activations include the Side by Side Band and community resources together.
“We want the parents to be involved, it is so, so very important and vital that our parents are engaged in the lives of the youth throughout the year,” MPD Chief Pamela Smith said.
These activities help build the gap between teens, their parents and law enforcement.
“You’re getting the message out, people will come out,” Brown said. “You see teenagers, even the big kids out here. They all out here.”
“We get to introduce kids, renegade our kids with metropolitan police department officers and members of the workforce,” Smith said.
When it comes to the kids opinions, they gave raving reviews.
“You could meet new people and you could have fun with the community,” Holley said.
WUSA9 asked him if he would come back for another event like this.
“Yes,” Holley said. Brown added that they come to these parties every year, and her son always asks when is the next one.
Here’s a list of the upcoming events:
- Friday, June 7 Ridge Road Pool & Community Center 830 Ridge Road, SE
- Friday, June 14 Kennedy Recreation Center 1401 7th Street, NW
- Friday, June 21 Bald Eagle Recreation Center 100 Joliet Street, SW
- Friday, June 28 Oxon Run Pool 501 Mississippi Avenue, SE
- Friday, July 12 Emery Heights Recreation Center 5701 Georgia Avenue, NW
- Friday, July 19 Turkey Thicket Pool & Recreation Center 1100 Michigan Avenue, NE
- Friday, July 26 Woody Ward Pool & Community Center 5100 Southern Ave SE
- Friday, Aug. 2 Fort Stanton Pool & Recreation Center 1812 Erie Street, SE
- Friday, Aug. 9 Rosedale Pool & Community Center 1701 Gales Street, NE
- Friday, Aug. 23 Banneker Pool & Community Center 2500 Georgia Avenue, NW
Click here for more information about the events.
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