Mayor Evans urges Rochester families to explore free summer programs that promote health safety and community connection

Rochester, New York – As summer heats up in Rochester, Mayor Malik D. Evans is calling on the city’s residents to take full advantage of the wealth of programs and services designed to ensure a healthy, safe, and engaging season for both children and adults.

“By working together, we can continue to drive crime and injury numbers down, but more importantly, we can continue to drive numbers up in terms of jobs and engagement,” Mayor Evans said during a recent public safety update. “I call those opportunity numbers. If we bring those opportunity numbers up, all those sad statistics will continue to go down.”

This message comes as part of the mayor’s ongoing campaign to prioritize safety and opportunity through a blend of prevention, intervention, and community engagement. With students out of school and families spending more time outdoors, the city’s leadership is doubling down on its mission to make every neighborhood in Rochester a safer, more vibrant place to live.

Coordinated Approach Across City Departments

Mayor Evans, speaking alongside department heads at one of his regular Public Safety Update press conferences, emphasized the importance of collaboration. Every city department, he said, has a hand in shaping summer safety.

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The Rochester Police Department (RPD), for instance, continues its year-round crackdown on gun violence, while also focusing on quality-of-life crimes that affect day-to-day living. RPD Chief David Smith explained how officers are being strategically deployed to public gathering spots such as Ontario Beach, Durand Eastman Parks, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park, the Transit Center, and Parcel 5.

To further safeguard these areas, partnerships with the New York State Police and other law enforcement agencies remain active. These collaborative efforts are particularly focused on cracking down on stolen vehicles and illegal off-road activity. Additionally, the East End Entertainment District Special Event Zone remains in operation every Saturday night to help manage crowds and deter disruptive behavior.

Holding Property Owners Accountable

The city’s legal team is also playing a role in this push for a safer summer. Corporation Counsel Patrick Beath highlighted how the Law Department continues to use the Mayor’s Gun Violence State of Emergency powers to address problem properties linked to violent incidents.

“So far this year, emergency closures have been issued for nine locations, including three since May related to shootings or shots-fired incidents at or near 2260 N. Clinton Ave., 1730 N. Goodman St., and 886 N. Clinton Ave.,” Beath said.

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These closures are part of a broader strategy to ensure that property owners contribute to the well-being of their neighborhoods. Some owners have even begun voluntarily implementing safety measures, following constructive dialogue with the city.

Recreation Programs Offer Safe Havens

Meanwhile, the Department of Recreation and Human Services is rolling out an extensive summer lineup geared toward youth and families. From R-Center programming to community events, Deputy Commissioner Sarah Fletcher said the department’s top priority is giving young people safe places to go and meaningful activities to participate in.

Highlights of the summer programming include:

• Full schedules at R-Centers, offering meals and supervision during the day.
• Summer Camps tailored for different age groups.
• Opening of all five city swimming pools, along with spray parks and the Durand Eastman Beach.
• The return of the “R-Night Out” series, starting Thursday, July 10 with a movie night at the Frederick Douglass R-Center.
• Free sports clinics hosted at the Rochester Community Sports Complex.
• Workforce development initiatives like the “Summer of Opportunity” and “My Brothers Keeper” programs.
• ROC the Block employment fairs bringing job opportunities directly to local neighborhoods.
• Ongoing community gatherings at the Rochester Public Market and International Plaza.

This array of offerings, city leaders hope, will provide young residents with not just something to do—but a direction to follow.

Violence Prevention Through Outreach and Events

The Office of Violence Prevention (OVP), led by Director Zequa Tookes, is deploying creative outreach strategies to address community needs on a deeper level. Their summer efforts are focused on narrowing the gap between resources and the people who need them most.

Among their flagship initiatives is the “Feed the Block – Clean the Block” campaign. As part of a series of Pathways to Peace barbecues in August, outreach teams will distribute food and also help residents clean up litter and improve their streets. The concept is simple: foster pride in one’s neighborhood while connecting with positive resources.

Additional OVP plans for the summer include:

• Walking patrols along North Clinton Avenue leading up to the Puerto Rican Festival.
• A visible presence at community events like R-Night Out, Concerts by the Shore, and Jazz at the Beach.
• The ROC the Peace Festival, celebrating unity and nonviolence.
• A major back-to-school event in August, where families can pick up supplies at the Rochester Community Sports Complex.
• Relaunch of the “Choose Wisdom” campaign, promoting safer and more thoughtful life choices.

Tookes noted that OVP is also supporting events led by local partners, including Cameron Community Ministries and Rise Up Rochester, with activities ranging from peace walks to prayer sessions.

Fire Safety and Career Building

While most efforts center on fun and prevention, the Rochester Fire Department is focused on readiness. Fire Chief Stefano Napolitano said the department is actively preparing for heat-related emergencies and is educating the public on fire safety, particularly when it comes to grilling and backyard fire pits.

“Prevention is key,” Napolitano explained. “We want to make sure families are enjoying the summer without putting themselves or their neighbors at risk.”

The city is also helping to shape the next generation of public safety professionals. A new Summer Public Safety Internship Program just kicked off this week, welcoming 20 young people into hands-on experiences with the fire and emergency communications departments. The goal is to inspire interest in these career paths while giving interns a deeper understanding of the roles they might one day step into.

Investing in Opportunity to Prevent Tragedy

Throughout the news conference, the mayor continued to drive home the message that opportunity—not just enforcement—is the most effective path toward long-term safety and wellness.

“By working together, we can continue to drive crime and injury numbers down, but more importantly, we can continue to drive numbers up in terms of jobs and engagement,” Evans repeated. “I call those opportunity numbers. If we bring those opportunity numbers up, all those sad statistics will continue to go down.”

In short, Rochester is placing its summer bet on community—on parks instead of patrol cars, on youth programs instead of punitive measures, and on neighborhood barbecues instead of neighborhood violence. City leaders believe that by investing in people now, they can prevent problems before they ever begin.

And with a summer packed full of programming, partnerships, and public engagement, the city is giving residents every opportunity to step into that vision.