This Friday marks the kick off of Club KC, a free event designed to provide local youth with fun and safe summer activities. Club KC features dancing and video games and will be hosted at six Kansas City community centers throughout the summer. The Mayor will be on hand at Brush Creek Community Center this Friday to start Club KC festivities at 7 pm. Club KC ends at midnight, at which time the City’s curfew ordinance will be in effect. This summer will feature expanded activities, thanks to partnerships with the Boys and Girls Club, Kansas City Public Library, Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, and ArtsTechKC.
Additionally, Mayor’s Nights are athletic-centered activities including Night Kicks (soccer), Night Hoops (basketball) and Night Nets (volleyball). Last year, attendance numbers for Club KC and Mayor’s Nights hit the 12,000 mark after 12 weeks. For details on dates, times, and locations of events throughout the summer, and to register online, visit kcmayor.org/mayorsnights.
“I am incredibly proud of our continuing efforts to provide Kansas City youth with fun activities this summer,” said Mayor Sly James. “Club KC and Mayor’s Nights demonstrates that if you listen and work with young people, rather than just telling them what they can’t do, you reach solutions that work for everyone.”
The Mayor also reminds the community that, starting this weekend, the curfew ordinance is enforceable until the last Sunday in September and is set for minors under 16 at 10:00 p.m. and for minors ages 16 and 17 the curfew at 11:00 p.m.
The City’s five entertainment districts, the Plaza, Westport, Downtown/Central Business District, 18th and Vine, and Zona Rosa, all have a special curfew during summer months that requires anyone under 18 to be accompanied by their parents after 9:00 p.m. Minors, 17 and under, attending Club KC would be subject to the curfew exception allowing attendance at a City event, but are required to go directly to their place of residence after the close of Club KC.
Exceptions for the curfew include:
a. When a minor is attending an event for which the City has specifically approved the presence of unaccompanied minors upon City property;
b. When a minor is accompanied by his or her parent, guardian or other adult person having the lawful care and custody of the minor;
c. When the minor is upon an emergency errand directed by his or her parent or guardian or other adult person having the lawful care and custody of such
minor;
d. When the minor is returning directly home from a school activity, school entertainment, school recreational activity or school dance;
e. When the minor is returning directly home from lawful employment that makes it necessary to be in the places referenced in this section during the prescribed
period of time;
f. When the minor is attending or traveling directly to or from an activity involving the exercise of first amendment rights of free speech, freedom of
assembly or free exercise of religion; and
g. In interstate travel through the city.
The curfew ordinance allows for any minor found in violation to be detained until their parents pick them up. In addition, the ordinance allows for parents to be fined up to $500 for each infraction.