Press Release | Office of the Mayor |City of Westland Parks and Recreation Partners with Livonia YMCA to Offer Summer Day Camp

For Immediate Release | Official Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

36300 Warren Road | Westland, Michigan | 48185

Office 734.467.3200 | Fax 734.422.1230

WWW.CITYOFWESTLAND.COM

City of Westland Parks and Recreation Partners with Livonia YMCA to Offer Summer Day Camp

Westland, MI - Although it isn't quite summer yet, this is the time of year parents begin to plan for summer child care. Parents in the Westland-area have a new option available to make sure their children are both in a safe environment and have their best summer ever. The City of Westland and Livonia Family YMCA have partnered to provide 11 weeks of summer day camp, offering a variety of programs and activities that stimulate both mind and body.

"It's important for children to be active and to continue learning new skills throughout the summer months," said Brian Wolverton, Executive Director of the Livonia Family YMCA. "Day camp at the Y provides kids with adventure, healthy fun, personal growth and new friendships that can create memory and relationships that last long past the summer."

The week-long themed day camp sessions run June 19 to September 1, and is open to children between the ages of 5 and 12. Children must be five years old as of September 1, 2016 to attend. Held at Central City Park, inside the Farmers Market Pavilion, the summer programs will take advantage of the parks many amenities including playscape and H20 splash pad, as well as provide fun activities that develop character and teach new skills. Children will travel up to three times a week to explore the outdoors, participate in field trips and go swimming.

"This is the first year that the City of Westland and the Livonia Family YMCA have partnered to offer summer day camp," said Mayor William Wild, City of Westland. "We believe this is a great opportunity for families from Westland and the surrounding areas to provide their children with a great summer experience, in a safe nurturing space. YMCA day camps provide a welcoming environment for kids where they can belong, build friendships, develop character and simply have fun. This is a win-win partnership for both the Y and the City of Westland."

The Y supports all children in the community and helps them discover their potential," said Wolverton. "For families who cannot afford camp, the YMCA offers financial assistance programs so they can participate as well."

To find out more about camp programs or financial assistance, contact Kelly Plocharczyk, Youth Development Manager at [email protected] or call 734-261-2161, ex. 216, or go to www.ymcadetroit.org/livonia/programs/camp/

Westland, Michigan is the state's 10th largest municipality, with a population of over 84,000 people who exhibit a great deal of pride in their All-American City. Westland has a thriving business community along with beautiful residential areas. The citizens enjoy a wide array of amenities and a quality of life that is second to none.

In 2014, Westland was rated as one of 24/7 Wall Street's America's Best 50 Cities to Live, offering residents and visitors an ideal blend of single-family affordable homes, apartments and condominiums, great schools, and access to numerous outdoor activities. Public safety is delivered by full-service, professional law enforcement and firefighting personnel. Westland Police Department, whose motto is protect and serve, provides emergency dispatch services to four cities and over 100,000 residents; the Westland Fire Department are licensed paramedics who responded to over 9,000 calls for service last year, about 85% being medical based. They never forget their mission of preserving life and property.

Westland is well-known as the premier destination for shopping and dining in Wayne County with hundreds if shops and restaurants anchored by the Westland Shopping Center, on of the country's original four regional malls.

Infinite opportunities are available in Westland for the recreation aficionado including, more that 40 parks and 1,500 acres of trails, a 9-hole golf course, hockey arena, athletic fields, playscapes, a Farmers and Artisans Market and more. One of Michigan's most environmentally friendly cities, Westland has a progressive curbside recycling program with one of the highest participation rates in the nation and the City is raising the bar for cultural experiences with the placement of public art throughout the City.

The City is served by two public school districts; Wayne-Westland Community Schools serving 12,000 youth was recently named one of the Best School in Michigan by WXYZ-TV and is the proud recipient of 14 Golden Apple and two Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards. Livonia Public Schools, educating nearly 15,000 students, is proud of their MEAP/MME scores that exceed state averages and the District has also earned Golden Apple and Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards.

The City provides competitive incentives for those who are interested in investing in Westland, making it one of the hottest investment markets in the region. Our Fast-Track to Business Team, which consists of key decision makers who work diligently on a development plan will "cut the red tape" and expedite the approval process for new business development.