To the editor:

As a Newburyport resident, and a parent who works full-time outside of the home, I'm writing to share my support for the proposed new recreation center. More specifically, I want to highlight what a meaningful difference it could make for Newburyport families, especially when it comes to after-school care for kids.

Affordable, accessible after-school programs aren't just a "nice-to-have." Rather, they're a lifeline for working parents and a safe, enriching space for our children. Whether it's a place to finish homework, play basketball, or just hang out with friends under the watch of caring adults, a rec center offers structure and support during those critical hours after school.

Just as important, a rec center offers a weather-proof space to host these important activities. RYS does heroic work to keep programs going, but when they are offered in a park or in a tent, programs get canceled when it rains. Working parents don't just need care — they need care they can depend on in all kinds of weather. The rec center makes that possible once again.

Options for families in our area are limited, and are expensive. The proposed rec center could open the door to more kids staying active, engaged, and connected to their community. Since the Brown School closed in 2021, Newburyport Recreation and Youth Services staff have worked so hard to provide this kind of affordable and safe space to families, and I feel that it's time to support their efforts, to invest in our children and our city, and to vote yes on May 13.

KARINA MOLTZ

Newburyport