Harlem Community Center

HCC PROMOTES A STRONG COMMUNITY BY OFFERING A BROAD RANGE OF PROGRAMS WHICH SUPPORT THE EDUCATIONAL, SOCIAL, AND RECREATIONAL NEEDS OF FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS.

IN OCTOBER 2007, HCC OPENED THE HAND-N-HAND CHILD CARE CENTER. HAND-N-HAND IS A LICENSED CHILD CARE FACILITY THAT PROVIDES FULL-TIME CARE FOR CHILDREN AGES 6 WEEKS THROUGH PRESCHOOL. HAND-N-HAND IS OPEN MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 6:15AM - 5:45PM. THE FEES ARE COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER CHILD CARE CENTERS IN OUR REGION. IF FAMILIES ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD CHILD CARE, HCC ACCEPTS REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE STATE OF ILLINOIS CHILD CARE SUBSIDY PROGRAM. HCC IS ALSO ENROLLED IN THE ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOOD PROGRAM. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 178 CHILDREN ENROLLED AT THE CENTER AT THIS TIME. HNH IS THE ONLY CENTER-BASED PROVIDER OF INFANT CARE IN THE LOVES PARK/MACHESNEY PARK COMMUNITY. THERE ARE CURRENTLY APPROXIMATELY 300 EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER SPACES AVAILABLE FOR THE 3000+ CHILDREN.THE COVID PANDEMIC RESULTED IN A WIDE-SPREAD IMPACT IN ALL AREAS OF HCC ORGANIZATION. PROGRAMS WERE ALTERED OR ELIMINATED. STAFF MEMBERS HAD THEIR HOURS IMPACTED DEPENDING UPON WHICH PROGRAM THEY WORK IN. NEW EMERGENCY FUNDS WERE PROVIDED AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEVEL.

HCC'S WENTLAND FAMILY SPORT COMPLEX IS LOCATED IN LOVES PARK. IT IS A 32-ACRE FACILITY CREATED TO MEET THE NEEDS FOR OPEN GREEN SPACE AND FOR BOTH PASSIVE AND ACTIVE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. IT CURRENTLY HAS 15 BALL DIAMONDS (4-6 TOURNAMENT QUALITY), BASKETBALL COURTS, SAND VOLLEYBALL COURTS, A WALKING PATH, PROJECT PLAYWORKS (A WOODEN PLAYGROUND FACILITY) AND SKATEWORKS - THE ONLY SKATE PARK IN WINNEBAGO COUNTY. HCC'S BALL DIAMONDS ARE RENTED THROUGHOUT THE SEASON. TWO AREA HIGH SCHOOLS CALL OUR DIAMONDS THEIR "HOME" DIAMONDS AND PRACTICE AND PLAY THROUGHOUT THEIR SEASON. DURING IHSSA PLAYOFFS, HCC IS THE CHOSEN LOCATION FOR REGIONAL, SECTIONAL, AND SUPER SECTIONAL GAMES. THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, OUR DIAMONDS ARE RENTED FOR LOCAL, STATE, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL SOFTBALL, AND BASEBALL TOURNAMENTS. THE TOURNAMENTS ARE PRIMARILY YOUTH TOURNAMENTS. OVER 100,000 INDIVIDUALS PER YEAR VISIT THIS FACILITY. HCC'S SUMMERBALL PROGRAM INCLUDES BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL FOR YOUTH AGES 4 THROUGH 16. THIS PROGRAM HAS EXISTED AT HCC FOR 60 YEARS. LAST YEAR APPROXIMATELY 500 CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM. HCC UTILIZES VOLUNTEERS AS COACHES, ASSISTANT COACHES, SCOREKEEPERS, AND CONCESSION HELPERS. THE PROGRAM OPERATES FROM MAY TO AUGUST.