Youth in the Park
The cornerstone of the Franklin Park Coalition's youth programs is the Youth Conservation Crew. This past summer 25 teens had paid jobs in the park, doing landscape work and leading community activities. The program teaches them about careers in forestry and park management, and helps them become leaders in the park community. If you're out in the park on summer days you'll see the Crew in their green t-shirts. Please stop and introduce yourself, let them know how you use the park, and appreciate their hard work!
To address escalating street violence, last summer the Crew began a drop-in Youth Sports Night to give neighborhood teens a place to hang out on Thursday evenings. This past summer we expanded to three nights a week. Centered around the basketball courts next to White Stadium, there was also flag football, double dutch, kickball and other games. Free hot dogs, hamburgers and lemonade helped draw in teens and local families. FPC has resurfaced and painted the basketball courts - we're hoping the city will put up another set of hoops.
Photo: The Franklin Park Tennis Association brought volunteer teachers every Thursday night to give young people a chance to try out the sport.
For a special public health project, Crew members did surveys (check out the results) in the park and surrounding neighborhoods to learn more about what keeps people from using the park . The survey includes questions about health problems. We are working to make the connection between park use and healthy living.
During the school year we invite youth groups and schools into the park for exploration, learning and hands -on work saving the park's woodlands. If you're a teacher or youthworker, contact us to plan a visit with your students. A school year FPC Leadership Crew directs their peers in afterschool and weekend projects, delves more deeply into careers and environmental learning, and participates in community outreach.
photos: Squashbusters joins a spring clean-up (above); students learn to identify invasive plants (below).
