Installation of sustainable energy projects to impact parking at Abel Maldonado Center

A project to install solar panels at the Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center and the Paul Nelson Aquatic Center will limit access to parking in the facilities parking lot through June 6. 

Parking at the facilities will also be impacted by Downtown Fridays, slated to continue through September, which will close a portion of McClelland Street from Boone Street to the Natural History Museum every Friday from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.

While notifying residents of the impact of the solar project, the Recreation and Parks Department said the installation effort is part of the city’s commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency, while enhancing infrastructure for long-term community benefit.  

The combined impacts may result in reduced parking availability and increased traffic for those attending programs, activities, and reservations at the facility.

Alternative parking options are available in the rear parking lot behind the Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center, along the street near the facilities and at the public library parking lot.

Participants are encouraged to arrive early or allow additional time for their scheduled activities.

Students in grades 6-12, and in between the ages of 11-18, are invited to participate in April programming at the Maldonado Center during after-school hours.

On Tuesday, April 7, teens are invited to a two-day Career Camp workshop focused on workforce readiness, including resume development, interview preparation, and team-based activities.

Through interactive lessons, participants will work as a team to start their own “corporation” while learning how to create an impressive resume and prepare for a real job interview.

Teens who participate will be eligible for prizes. Lunch will be provided courtesy of the McClelland Street Market located inside the Youth Center.

Other April programs include: 

• Teen Trivia Kahoot Style — Held the third Tuesday of each month from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. The April session, “Conspiracy or Real,” will take place April 21.
• Connect & Creativity Wednesdays — Weekly art sessions held Wednesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., featuring art, crafts, STEM activities, and seasonal themes. April sessions will include a “Hop into Spring” theme.
• Prom-posal Series — Prom season is here. High school students in 11th and 12th grades may create prom-posal signs and handmade corsages. Sessions will be held Thursdays, April 9, from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
• DJ Academy — Teens and pre-teens in 6th to 12th grade will learn the basics of DJing, including beat matching, mixing, and scratching. The program meets every Wednesday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., from April 8 through May 13. Fees: $25 for city residents; $31 non-city residents.

Registration is required for all programs, fees are listed where applicable; all other programs are free with a Youth Center membership.

Youth Center memberships are free for students in grades 6-12 and require a parent signature.

The youth center, located at 600 South McClelland St., is open Monday to Thursday from 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 2:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.