SquashWise Opens Six-Court Center in Baltimore to Boost Youth Participation

Baltimore SquashWise is constructing a new center at Howard and Centre streets that will add six squash courts and nearly quadruple capacity for its current group of 70 middle and high school students.

Citywide data shows just 18 percent of Baltimore City Schools high school students took part in at least one sport during the 2022-23 academic year. Baltimore City Public Schools began offering sports to all public middle school students for the first time in the 2023-24 school year. The new SquashWise site arrives as multiple organizations push to increase playing opportunities for underserved youth.

Local programs scale up infrastructure

Volo Kids Baltimore has grown its free sports leagues from 100 participants in 2015 to more than 5,000 today. The Baltimore Youth Sports Collaborative, a group of 17 nonprofits, obtained $10,000 to $20,000 state grants for eight providers and arranged contracts with City Schools for seven organizations to run middle school programs. Project Play’s Leveling the Playing Field has sent $4.8 million in donated sports equipment into the greater Baltimore area since opening its local warehouse, including $823,000 directed to East Baltimore.

These efforts concentrate on concrete venues and equipment distribution rather than broad policy statements. The SquashWise project directly addresses court space limits, while the equipment warehouse supplies gear that smaller programs can use immediately at existing fields and gyms.

Next steps for families and providers

Parents can check the Baltimore Youth Sports Collaborative directory for upcoming middle school sessions now under contract with City Schools. Organizations seeking equipment can contact Project Play’s Leveling the Playing Field warehouse operation for available stock. SquashWise expects the Howard and Centre center to open additional slots once construction finishes.