Summer parks program returning
Butler’s summer parks program is expected to return this year, with a new organization heading up programming for the revamped Free Summer Meals Program.
Butler Mayor Bob Dandoy said city council has contacted Breakthrough Butler, a child-focused nonprofit, to supervise the food and fun initiative this summer. According to Dandoy, Breakthrough Butler is in talks to rotate through the parks throughout the summer and provide activities to each two days a week. The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank will provide food for participating children.
“We were able to fund raise the money needed to fund the program with help from the Rotary, Katie’s Kitchen and the Lion's Club,” Dandoy said. “We’re happy, we’re excited; the Greater (Pittsburgh Community) Food Bank is helping us with the lunches, so kids will get a lunch if they participate.”
The city donated about $8,000 to the Grace Youth and Family Foundation in 2022 to run a park program at Rotary Park, Institute Hill Playground and Father Marinaro Park, which included meals for the children. The closing of the foundation last May, after charges were filed against its founder, Bill Halle, put an end to that partnership, however, and the summer parks program did not take place.
Butler City Councilman Dan Herr said last year there was not enough time for the city to find an organization to replace the Grace Youth and Family Foundation.
Nick Yannotty, founder of Breakthrough Butler, said Thursday he is happy to take over the program, after the nonprofit provided summer camps to children during the past two years.
Yannotty said the parks program is meant to get children out to the city’s parks, provide them with activities and serve them food throughout the summer. Children up to age 18 can participate, and Yannotty said the program will be open for registration all summer.
“We’re there at the parks for a little over two hours a visit and kids can come any time during that period,” Yannotty said. “They can stay as long as they want to. We’ll try to do an activity or game along with the food.”
Breakthrough Butler will continue running Camp Breakthrough this summer, which has weekly themes Yannotty plans to adapt to activities in the Free Summer Meals Program. Additionally, Yannotty and his staff is being trained to help serve food.
The parks program runs 10 weeks this summer, ending in August. Yannotty said the program will not operate July 4, and there are a few other scattered days during the summer it will not be active because of Camp Breakthrough trips.
The city of Butler and Breakthrough Butler will distribute information about the Free Summer Meals Program through Butler Area School District, and people can register and get more information on Breakthrough Butler’s website.
Yannotty said the new opportunity has added to the workload for him and his staff, but the opportunity is all positive.
“It has been exciting,” Yannotty said. “There have been a lot of talks the last couple months, so we have added a few additional people. We have more openings, more opportunities.”
Dandoy said the city raised $7,500 to fund the program. There are no income eligibility requirements for children and no enrollment limit at this time.
“With the program spread out over that many parks on that many days, we think everything will be fine as far as getting all the kids taken care of,” Dandoy said.
The parks program will be active at each park twice a week. It will be at Father Marinaro Park from 10:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Mondays and from 10:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays; at Rotary Park from 12:45 to 3 p.m. Mondays and from 10:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursdays; at Christie Avenue Playground from 10:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays and from 12:45 to 3 p.m. Fridays; and at Butler Memorial Park from 10:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesdays and from 12:45 p.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays.
For more information, visit breakthroughbutler.org, and click the flyer for the Free Summer Meals Program.
