As the city’s free summer youth program is about to begin Monday, residents are telling city lawmakers it won’t meet the community’s needs.
Residents voiced concerns that this year’s program will be out of reach for some neighborhoods because it is held at Altro Willow Park, rather than rotating among several parks.
Steve Huston, a resident of Michigan Street, told the Common Council on Wednesday, “This program only pertains to kids up to grade 6. What about the rest of the kids, 13 to 17? What are they supposed to do all summer? Walk the street and get into trouble?”
Shalia Tomlinson, who identified herself as an employee of the Lockport City School District, agreed.
“We’re going to have a huge problem because if there’s nothing to do and no place to go, there’s going to be trouble. Our lower socio-economic students are the ones who are going to suffer because they don’t have breakfast, they don’t have lunch, and they’re not going to be able to make it over to Willow Park. It’s all well for some kids, but it’s not for our entire community.”
John Craig, 1st Ward alderman who coordinated this year’s youth program, explained that the plan was based on expenses, opportunities and amenities. He said that county staff described last year’s program as a disappointment with only 50 children participating. This year, there are only 22 families registered for the upcoming program.
Craig said that this year’s planning started with the intent to use three parks.
“Dolan and Outwater aren’t able to provide refrigerated foods, which is part of the meal program. The original plan was to hire a coordinator, like in the past, and hire local youth, as in the past, to support multiple park outreach. Many of the park facilities are not up to code to be able to provide those. We only had one person apply for the job as coordinator, who had never done any youth program.”
Craig said that the county meal program advised him that Willow Park distributed the most meals last year, which contributed to the decision to rely on the location.
The city created a pilot program this year, Craig said, by partnering with the Kenan Center, YMCA, and Youth Mentoring.
“We’re not running the program, we’ve contracted it out to people who actually do this 365 days a year,” he said. The program will offer art, flag football, soccer, other activities, and the library techmobile will come once a week.
Mayor John Lombardi III did not respond to a request for comment Thursday about whether park facilities were “up-to-code.”
Huston responded that with the high rate of taxes, “you couldn’t buy some kind of unit to put in Outwater Park to keep the food cold in the summertime? That’s ridiculous! … Once again, you pick and choose where the funds go. Think about the people in the city, not just the ones on the other side of High Street.”
Craig said most other cities and towns require a fee to participate in youth programs. The City of Lockport hasn’t had a dedicated youth program staff person for 11 years and remains free of charge.
Michele Ebanks, a resident of Gabriel Drive, said that many families can’t get to Altro Park.
“Most of them don’t have cars. Most of the parents are working,” Ebanks said. “You’re going to make a 5-year-old walk up there?”
There was noticeable frustration on both sides as Kathryn Fogle, council president, and Ebanks went back on forth on the topic.
Anita Mullane, 2nd Ward alderman commented, “I’d like to see a better program for the kids, too. Unfortunately, I really wish we could have gotten one of our phys ed teachers, who had the credentials, who knows how to do lesson plans . … We thought that would be an ideal position for someone.”
Mullane said being unable to fill the position led to creating a different program.