PLATFORM: Youth Activities

PLATFORM:

Youth
Activities

The most important investment we can make is in our youth. Law enforcement will tell you that it is the best way to combat gangs and drugs. For over a decade now the Virgil Swim Center has had an Olympic size pool that remains empty. Then suddenly in the middle of a summer day this August, the Henderson pool is closed without notice. A few days later it is reopened on a limited basis with classes cancelled for the summer. Thomson Elementary has an enormous play field on the West side that is divided into areas for basketball, baseball, football and other activities but it is so run down as to make it largely unusable. There are many community groups that would like to use it but there is no program to do so even if it was restored. We desperately need more after school activities. Our Sports Park is an excellent facility but its use is often limited by it’s location on the outskirts of the City. We have public schools that are located through our city which would be more conveniently accessible to a larger number of children. The City should work with the School District to utilize existing facilities and invest in those facilities for that purpose. But again there is a total disconnect between the City leaders and the School District.