TACOMA, Wash. — A summer program created last year to reduce youth gun violence in Tacoma received a statewide award for its efforts.
The Washington Recreation & Parks Association gave Metro Parks Tacoma's Summer Late Nights program a Spotlight Award for Program Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Wellness.
The program was created amid a rise in youth crime in some areas of western Washington.
For example, in Renton, there was an increase in violent crime and property crime from 2022 to 2023. In 2022, there were 60 assaults committed by teens compared to 84 in 2023, according to the Renton Police Department. There was also an increase in stolen vehicle cases; 14 were reported in 2022 compared to 63 in 2023.
Several high-profile crimes in Tacoma, including teens being shot and killed, prompted the city to allocate $300,000 toward summer youth programs in 2023, which is the funding mechanism behind the program.
The Summer Late Nights program provides teens a safe place to socialize, eat and hang out while school is not in session. The program is held Monday through Friday from 5-10 p.m. at 12 different locations and is free for everyone.
In addition to receiving hot meals, kids can play sports, participate in art and STEM activities and attend mentorship and leadership clinics.
In September of 2023, Tanisha Jumper, the chief communications officer at Tacoma Public Schools, told KING 5 she saw the program as a success.
"Sometimes kids just need to know someone's watching," said Jumper. "[They] could have chosen to be anywhere. And they chose to come and show up at our schools and play basketball with their friends."
In 2023, Summer Late Nights recorded more than 12,000 visits from 1,687 middle and high school students across all 12 sites.
“I’m so proud of the collaboration and work that went into answering this call on such short notice,” said Metro Parks Tacoma Board President Andrea Smith in a press release. “The success we saw in providing safe and healthy spaces for Tacoma’s youth would not have been possible without such an incredible team.”
Summer Late Nights returns June 24. For a full list of locations around the Tacoma area, visit the Metro Parks Tacoma webpage.
