School is out for the summer, but that doesn’t mean the fun of recess is over.
The nonprofit organization Recess Cleveland has pop-up events throughout the city, bringing old and new games to children and adults of all ages to different neighborhoods.
Every Tuesday this summer, the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood is hosting Recess Cleveland in a vacant lot at 7315 Elton Avenue.
The goal is to provide a safe, fun environment to exercise and interact with neighbors.
“We do this to build community,” Recess Cleveland’s founder Alexander Robertson said. “Not everybody here is from the Detroit-Shoreway community, but we invite people to come and meet residents of Detroit-Shoreway, and build our own little family or community.”
Robertson wants to get 10,000 participants active this summer. Playing active games like bubble soccer and jump rope is healthy for people’s bodies, but Robertson says it’s also healthy for the community.
“There are people who don’t go to your average community meeting, there are people who won’t show up to a meeting with a council person, but recess is a low-level ask, just to come out and have fun,” he said.
Recess Cleveland volunteer Jocelyn McCane says it’s a great way to de-stress.
“A lot of these children really do need this,” she said. “With all the craziness that’s going on in the world, they get to be kids. They get to have fun.”