Summer Programs Feel the Effect of County Deficit : Recreation: Parks and pools are spared, but day camp and lunch activities will suffer. Layoffs are expected.

The good news is that county parks and pools in central Los Angeles are open for business this summer. The bad news is that many recreation programs--including summer day camps and lunch programs--are expected to close their doors at the end of the month.

The County Board of Supervisors, grappling with a multimillion-dollar deficit, last week ordered parks officials to freeze spending on recreational services and use the $1-million savings to keep parks open during the summer.

The budget freeze means layoffs. By the end of the month, the parks system is expected to eliminate dozens of employees who oversee soccer and baseball leagues and other recreation programs. Layoff notices go out in two weeks to as many as 65 of 75 recreation staff employees. The cuts will affect nearly 20 county parks in central Los Angeles, where thousands of children flock each day for free lunches, soccer practice, dance classes and other activities.

News of the upcoming changes filtered slowly through the parks during the week, alarming many who rely on the facilities to keep children busy during the hot summer months.

“I’m speechless,” said T-ball coach Ralph Harrison, 28, during a practice at Athens Park. “This park is sort of a landmark for the community, the only one around. It gives children something to do rather than run in the street.”

Parents met the news with a mixture of anxiety and resignation. Many said the day camps, typically open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., are safe and secure--something that puts their minds at ease while they work.

“It would be devastating for me. I really depend on parks and recreation so I can go on with my life,” said Judith Eddins, 36, a single parent who leaves her son and daughter at day camp each day while she attends dental school at UCLA. “I don’t have an alternative. I don’t have any family here.”

Parks officials said the budget cuts come at a particularly bad time, just as schools are letting out. Staff at several parks said they expected the numbers of children signing up for day-camp programs to swell in the coming weeks, as parents search for low-cost summer activities.

Parks officials, who have already begun notifying parents of the changes, said that programs will be scaled back or closed altogether. The officials hope to involve more volunteers at the parks but said that trained staff are still needed to supervise most programs.

“Entire communities will suffer,” said Velia Rosales, regional recreation director for East Los Angeles and the northeast section of the county. “Young children need organized activities.”

Officials said that without personnel on park grounds, vagrants and other troublemakers will begin to take over.

The bad news could get worse.

The Board of Supervisors’ decision to freeze recreation services was only a temporary measure designed to stave off far more drastic budget cuts that called for closing numerous parks and pools in the area.

Under the supervisors’ action, the parks will remain open through mid-September and the county’s corps of 86 park police will remain intact.

But in September, funding for the parks and the police could once again be on the chopping block.