Summer Night Lights Program Kicks Off

I was beyond ecstatic to attend the kickoff this morning at Glassell Park for the City’s “Summer Night Lights” program, which is focused on giving kids in the City’s eight gang-reduction zones an opportunity to participate in sports and cultural activities after dark. As we all know, the summertime can be a pretty vulnerable time for our children, particularly at night. This 10-week program is going to give kids a viable option to go to a park and have great, supervised, and (most importantly) safe fun. Both Monsignor Ramon Garcia Park and Ramona Gardens Recreation Centers in Boyle Heights will be hosting this program. The kickoff news conference included 80 kids with the “Youth Squad,” who will be employed during the program, Mayor Villaraigosa, Councilmembers Eric Garcetti and Ed Reyes, as well as LAPD Chief William Bratton. Also present were Jeff Carr, the mayor’s gang reduction and youth development coordinator, CBS 2’s Jim Hill, and even USC coach Pete Carroll! For more information about the program, please visit or call:

Monsignor Ramon Garcia Recreation Center
1016 S. Fresno St.
Los Angeles CA 90036
(323) 265 4755

Ramona Gardens Recreation Center
2830 Lancaster Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90033
(213) 847-2961