Site chosen for
curfew center

By Lauren Fritsky
Times Staff Writer

After months of scrounging for a space, the city decided last week to put the Northeast’s second curfew center at Max Myers Playground.
The site’s insertion on the city-owned property, located at 1601 Hellerman St., goes against the usual practice of using community buildings and churches to house the centers, of which there are six citywide. Ron George, a project manager with the Department of Human Services, told the Times last month that the city was more concerned with getting the curfew center up and running than staying bent on a privately owned site.
The newest center will serve youth from the 2nd, 7th and 8th police districts. One for the 15th operates at Frankford Group Ministry on Griscom Street.
The city originally wanted to put the 2nd district center closer to the border of the 2nd and 7th districts, but it could not find a group to sponsor the site in that location.
Youth caught violating curfew will be transported to the center, which operates from Thursday to Sunday between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Then, an intake worker will take down the child’s information and attempt to contact his or her guardian. Children can only leave if a parent picks them up.
The city hopes to open the center by Nov. 1. Volunteers are still needed, along with people to fill the paid positions of site coordinator, intake worker and receptionist.
For information, contact the Philadelphia Anti-Drug/Anti-Violence Network (PAAN) at 215-851-1900. ••
Reporter Lauren Fritsky can be reached at 215-354-3038 or lfritsky@phillynews.com