New Haven Independent

Camp Cedarcrest in Orange, which had hosted up to 120 city kids for six weeks in past years, will not be used this summer. The city could not come to an agreement with the consortium of civic groups that own that facility, city parks director Robert D. Levine told the regular meeting of his Board of Commissioners Wednesday night.. (Levine is shown answering a question from Migdalia Castro, one of two aldermanic representatives on the board.)

Instead, the 120 campers will go to the Barnard Nature Center, Goffe Street Park and, most likely, West Rock Park.

About 3,000 children attend camp in the city parks each summer, Levine said.

The move to keep the kids in town will save the city nearly $7,000 in fees and more than $37,000 in bus costs, he said.

Levine said that in spite of budget cuts, the camp program will be at full strength this summer, getting ready to fill the needs of 3,000 city kids.

The fee, which will be $50 a week, will be waived or reduced to fill the needs of city kids.

“Nobody is ever turned away because due to lack of funds,” he said.

For parents wondering what to do with their kids during the February school vacation, the city’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Trees will have its vacation camp Feb. 17-20. Applications are available on lineor by calling the department at 946-8027. The cost is $65 and there are extended hours available in the morning and evenings.