Summer Night Lights program for LA youth returns to recreation centers

Summer Night Lights, an initiative of the Mayor’s Office of Gang Reduction and Youth Development that keeps select parks and recreation centers in Los Angeles open late with free food and activities, will return Wednesday evening for the first time since 2019.

The program begins Wednesday night and will run through Sept. 2 at 43 parks across the city. The goal is to provide young residents and families with gathering spaces during the summer in an effort to reduce crime and violence during the peak months of gang-related activity, according to Mayor Eric Garcetti.

“Every Angeleno deserves a place in their community where they feel safe to spend quality time with their friends and loved ones,” Garcetti said in a statement. “I am excited that this program will resume in person once again — providing our kids with activities, resources and most importantly connections to one another.”

Summer Night Lights will take place from 7 to 11 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays from July 13 to Aug. 13, and on Fridays and Saturdays from Aug. 19 to Sept. 2.

Introduced in 2008, Summer Night Lights also includes several community engagement programs, along with sports clinics at select locations.

According to the mayor’s office, the program helped reduce crime at more than 70% of sites in 2019.

The Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Fire Department, Department of Recreation and Parks and the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles also contribute to the initiative.

“Summer Night Lights is one of Los Angeles’ most important and effective educational, recreational, public safety and community building initiatives,” said Deidre Lind, president and CEO of the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles.

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