City to offer low and no-cost summer meals, transport, recreation

The City of Wichita has a number of low and no-cost services and programs available to keep our younger residents fed and occupied until classes resume.

The City's CHAMPS meal program through the Housing & Community Services Department is offering a free lunch to children under the age of 18 until July 26. The location and times are as follows:

Grace Revolution Church, 812 S. Oliver, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm, Monday through Friday

Mending Place at South City, 1513 E. Galena, noon – 1 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays

Windridge Apartments, 2502 W. Wildwood, 11:00 am – noon, Monday through Friday

Wichita Transit

Transit is also offering residents the opportunity to ride the Route 11 bus for free this summer through Aug. 10. The route was recently revised to provide new service to the Sedgwick County Zoo and Sedgwick County Park. No ID is required and riders can get on or off the bus at any point on the route.

Transit is also offering free and unlimited bus rides to students who can show an ID. Youth may ride any of Wichita's 18 bus routes for no cost, Monday through Saturday, through Aug. 31. Students without a school ID can obtain a free ID card at the Wichita Transit Center, 214 S. Topeka. Route information can be found at www.wichitatransit.org.

If a child has never taken the bus before, Wichita Transit is also offering no-cost travel training. Please call (316) 352-4868 and ask to speak to the travel trainer.

Parks & Recreation

The City's Parks & Recreation Department is offering a number of free pool days for community members of all ages to enjoy on days when day care programs and camps are traditionally are not open. They are:

Location Date Time

Harvest Sunday, June 2 1 – 6 pm

College Hill Sunday, June 9 1 – 6 pm

Aley Sunday, June16 1 – 6 pm

Evergreen Saturday, July 6 1 – 6 pm

Minisa Sunday, July 14 1 – 6 pm

Linwood Saturday, July 20 1 – 6 pm

Orchard Saturday, July 27 1 – 6 pm

Four community recreation centers are providing a free summer youth program for kids 6 – 18 years of age to have fun, play as well as enjoy a free meal. These are the centers and dates of the programs:

Lynette Woodard Recreation Center, 7-9:00 pm on June 12, 19, 26 and July 10 and 17

McAdams Recreation Center, 8 – 10:00 pm on June 7, 14 and 28; July 5, 12, 19, 26; Aug. 2

Edgemoor Recreation Center, 10:00 am to Noon on June 8, 15, 29 and July 13, 20, 27

Linwood Recreation Center, 10:00 am to Noon on June 8, 22, 29 and July 13, 20, 27

City Crew

The City’s three mascots have joined forces to create a fun new kids program called the City Crew. Barry the Bison of Wichita Park & Recreation, Sparky from Wichita Fire Department and Sgt. Justice from Wichita Police are inviting kids 12 and under to join their crew for FREE. Once you are a member, you will be invited to exclusive events held in each district of Wichita, such as a barbeque, pool party and ice skating. Plus, there will be other events that pop-up as an extra bonus! On June 18, all Crew Members are invited to the Starlite Drive-in to watch the Secret Life of Pets 2 & Aladdin. Crew Members never pay for these awesome events! Visit Wichita.gov/CityCrew to register today.

Wichita Public Golf Courses

Juniors Play Fore FREE at all Wichita Public Golf Courses thanks to The First Tee of Greater Wichita. Kids 10 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Golf carts and clubs are not provided but available to rent. Visit golfwichita.com to book your tee time or download the Golf Wichita app.

Public Library

The Wichita Public Library is offering activities for youth to keep their minds sharp during the summer.

Summer Reading Program: Babies and toddlers can participate in early learning activities with a parent or guardian, and kids and teens can participate in reading programs and earn prizes the more they read. The Summer Reading Program runs through July 19. More information: www.wichitalibrary.org/summerr...

Summer Activities and Programs: The Library is offering a series of special performances that coincide with the Summer Reading Program, and specialty classes and programs, for kids and teens. Weekly story times for younger children are also available.

Teen Hackathon: Teens ages 14-18 will explore technology design and application development at the Wichita Public Library's Teen Hackathon 10:30 am-5:30 pm on Saturday, July 27 and 1-5 pm on Sunday, July 28 at the Advanced Learning Library. Teens will work in groups alongside mentors and tech experts to use technology to create a plan for an application or other technology-based service that solves a health-related problem teens face today. Registration is required. Visit www.wichitalibrary.org/teenhac... or call (316) 261-8500 to enroll.

Further information for all of the above programs can be found at https://wichita.gov/News/Pages/2019-06-06a.aspx or by calling the City of Wichita Customer Service Representative line at 316-WICHITA (316-942-4482).