Four times a year, the Newport News Department of Parks and Recreation distributes a calendar of recreational programs to all citizens in Newport News. The offerings are truly impressive. Parks and Recreation runs a full-service before and after school/summer program for children aged 3 through 15. This includes a summer day camp. Year-round, Parks and Recreation offers more than 250 instructional classes in fitness/sports skills, dance, music, art, drama, computers, hobbies and crafts, sewing and knitting, and decorative painting. The Department also offers a full mature adult program for those 55 and over. This includes a therapeutic recreation program.

The City’s Parks and Recreation Department operates seven community and recreation centers. The largest of these is the Midtown Community Center, a multipurpose recreation center with an Olympic-size swimming pool. More information is available on full range of Parks and Recreation programs.