Learning Labs, Grab & Go Lunches and Fitness Programs Featured
Metro Parks will open seven Neighborhood Community Centers on the weekends beginning this Saturday, October 3. For the first time, the neighborhood centers will provide on weekends essential services to the community, such as homework assistance for children, free lunches and fitness classes for adults. Operating hours for the participating centers will be 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. on Saturdays.
"We are thrilled to expand our services to residents in neighborhoods throughout Nashville and Davidson County." said Metro Parks Director Monique Horton Odom. "The introduction of the 'Learning Labs' - a comprehensive support program for public school children at our centers, will narrow the gap between the educational opportunities for children of less affluent backgrounds. The additional services will be especially important for low income families, who have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic."
To support the learning activities of school-age children, Metro Parks is launching the ‘Learning Labs’ program at seven of its neighborhood community centers - Easley, Antioch, Napier, McFerrin, Parkwood, Watkins, and Looby. The ‘Learning Labs’ will utilize the skills and experience of existing staff who will provide in-person (following CDC COVID protocols) homework assistance to children ages 6-14. The Learning Labs will operate 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at participating centers on Saturdays.
Metro Parks’ popular free weekday lunch program ‘Grab and Go,’ will also be offered on Saturdays at the seven neighborhood community centers for any child. Centers participating in this program are -Kirkpatrick, East, Shelby, South Inglewood, Napier, and McFerrin. The lunch pick-up time will be 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Fitness classes for adults will also be offered free of charge for four weeks starting this Saturday at three neighborhood centers - Shelby, South Inglewood, and Morgan.
Operating Hours:
Beginning October 5, week-day operating hours during the week will change to:
- Regional Community Centers: Monday-Friday, 6:00 a.m.-7:30 p.m./Saturdays, 8:00 a.m.-Noon
- Neighborhood Community Centers: Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m./Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for participating centers.
Metro Parks offers a variety of facilities and programs throughout Davidson County and oversees over 16,000 acres of open space, including 178 parks and nearly 100 miles of greenway. The department provides fitness and art classes, sports leagues, ice hockey, art galleries, dog parks, nature and environmental programs and activities as well as programs for seniors, special populations, and children after school. It is the mission of Metro Parks to equitably provide everyone in Nashville with an inviting and sustainable network of parks and greenways that offer health, wellness and quality of life through recreation, conservation and community.