OUR PROGRAMS
Nationally, 42% of schools nationally have canceled recess. Also, low-income neighborhoods are the least likely to have resources to provide physical activity to their residents. Recess Cleveland believes play should not be a privilege and brings opportunities for play to all families, regardless of their race, gender, zip code, or socioeconomic status. Learn about our approach, the solutions we fund, and our partners on the ground below.
Year Round (Active and in-person)
The recessROOM is our family entertainment center featuring our rotating attractions including dodgeball/gellyball courts, bounce gyms, soft play area, recessLabs STEM space, and other fun play activities.
- Location:
4806 Hamilton Avenue, 2nd Floor. Cleveland, Ohio 44114.
- Time:
The recessROOM is closed for open play during the summer and will reopen in September.
Inspired by RecessKits, RecessPods are a shipping container or enclosed trailer filled with play equipment and game instructions curated by Recess Cleveland.
Restore Recess is a dynamic program that organizes family-friendly pop-up events featuring a wide range of activities, including kickball, dodgeball, bounce houses, art, music, and dancing. These events are designed to be accessible and enjoyable for participants of all ages, providing a safe and inviting environment for play. By setting up in neighborhoods lacking recreational spaces, schools seeking to enhance their play offerings, and recreation centers looking to expand their community outreach, Restore Recess fills a critical gap in play access.
- Location:
One-off and weekly pop-up play events in neighborhoods all over Cleveland.
- Time:
Recess: Field Day is a comprehensive program offered by Recess Cleveland, designed to take the hassle out of organizing field day events for schools.
- Location:
Locations TBD.
- Time:
TBD
Recess: Play Streets is an exciting project that temporarily closes off parts of the city to vehicular traffic, turning them into huge playgrounds for community enjoyment. Once a month during the summer, streets usually dominated by cars become filled with laughter, games, and fun. The initiative offers a wide range of activities, including sports like dodgeball and basketball, arts and music from local artists, delicious food from local vendors, and educational workshops for all ages. Special areas for relaxation allow community members to unwind and socialize in a uniquely engaging setting.
- Location:
Locations TBD.
- Time:
TBD
Recess Labs is our mobile RV tech lab that encourages visitors to learn coding through e-gaming
- Location:
Virtual
- Time:
TBD
Recess Cleveland will give our supporters the opportunity to team up and compete against their peers in classic recess games at one of our pop-up recess locations.
- Location:
Exibition league play starts soon. Recruiting for summer leagues starts in mid-April. Text LEAGUES to 216-242-2282 for latest updates.
- Time:
TBD
Recess: Play Groups invites people of all ages to sign up for invites to playgroups featuring some of their favorite games or our traditional recess events in smaller groups based on age, neighborhood, or interest.
- Location:
Actively recruiting in several neighborhoods
- Time:
TBD
In partnership with Trust for Public Land, Park in the Box delivers a pop-up Recess programming, a community meeting space, and a work space to play deserts.
Additional Play Equity Programming
PLAYmakers is our monthly donor program (aka Friends of Recess Cleveland).
- Location:
Actively recruiting
- Time:
TBD
The Play Fund is our monthly donor program (aka Friends of Recess Cleveland).
- Location:
Actively recruiting
- Time:
TBD
In 2021, we decided to create a social enterprise to fulfill event requests that fall outside the mission of our nonprofit, e.g. birthday parties. 20% of all proceeds from Epic Fun Party bookings are donated to Recess Cleveland.
- Location:
TBD
- Time:
January 2025
