Steven G. Vegh
The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
About 100 people gathered Tuesday in an old Park Place building that once housed the Colonial Boys & Girls Club to show their support for the reopening of the facility.
Kids played piano, ran through the halls and ate pizza in the vacant site, which was home to the club years ago. It was the second time in recent weeks that the owners opened its doors for a similar gathering.
"You see a perfectly good facility; all it needs is children," said Carlos A. Howard, a business owner who, along with other community members, has asked the city for years for help to reopen the site to children, though not necessarily as a Boys & Girls Club.
"The thing about it is that the children have no place to go in the community."
Howard and at least 20 adults and 30 children said the same at the City Council meeting Tuesday evening.
"It would take a fraction of the city of Norfolk's budget to open this Boys & Girls Club," said Paul Pruden, a substitute teacher at James Monroe Elementary.
Katrina McClain told the council that the negative consequences of the club's closure weren't just a Park Place issue.
"Trouble travels," she said. "The kids doing drugs in Park Place are going to your neighborhood, and they're going to the schools your kids go to."
Councilman Paul Riddick reminded the audience that the city didn't close the club.
"I don't know why Boys & Girls Club decided to leave Norfolk," he said.
Riddick said questions such as who owns the building would have to be answered before the council could decide whether to subsidize its reopening. Howard said his proposal for the reopening would answer all questions.
Vice Mayor Anthony Burfoot said he didn't understand why the club had remained closed for so long.
"As long as I've been on council, these kids have had no place to go, but we can do everything else we want to do," he said, citing the city's $6.2 million purchase of a Jewish Community Center in 2004 for use as a recreation facility.
Michael Ricks, son of one of the building's owners, said Tuesday that they're not able to reopen the building on their own and were looking for help from the city and community.
"We have a shell of a facility," Ricks said. "With a minimum amount of money and investment, it can be state of the art."
Ricks couldn't estimate the cost of that investment.
Vanessa Hart-Jones, who was born and raised in Park Place, came with her kids for Tuesday's rally.
"Our children need something to do," Hart-Jones said. "If you give them something to do, they won't be in the streets."
Said Howard, "We want to give these children some hope."
Cheryl Ross, (757) 446-2443, cheryl.ross@pilotonline.com
Steven G. Vegh, (757) 446-2417, steven.vegh@pilotonline.com
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give up the cell phones and cable tv and join the Y
For less than the cost of cell phone texting and cable tv one can obtain an unsubsidized membership at the ymca.
Now I see why Carlos isn't on City Council
"All we need is kids" HUH? Seems that is an old building that needs lots of money to not only open it back up but to run it. If money wasn't an issue, then the Boys Club would still be running it. I say NO to pouring money into an old and dilapidated building.
boys and girls clubs
These are non-profits. If they can't raise the funds they don't exist. How many of those 100 people at the mtg are willing to donate their time and money to open up the club?
Up Date on the Salvation Army Recreation Center is
being built in the New Broadcreek Community. Most of the Money is from the Estate of Ray and Mary Kroc 'founders of McDonalds' Mickey 'D's, The salvation army was charged by the Kroc estate to use their fortune to benefit chidren ad their community, one stipulation; the city had to raise matching funds of which the citizens of Norfolk have gladly done.
The B&G club is not the responsibility of Government. the condition of parts of Park Place is a result of neglegent residents and cash poor landlords. NRHA Has built new homes and upgraded many streets but they are not parents nor a church,nor appreciated. Stop complaining and get involved in your neighborhoods. Asking public servants to pitch in on off hours implies that they don't, not so.
KEEP KIDS HOME STUDYING!!!
This place is an eye sore for the community already! Ading throngs of unsupervised kids, that in reality should be home studying or doing house work, would only further depress a neighborhood that teeters on critical mass.
Always wanting someone else to pay
"It would take a fraction of the city of Norfolk's budget to open this Boys & Girls Club," said Paul Pruden. Why don't those families who want a babysitting service pay for it themselves?
Norfolk is broke
and can't afford any more new projects. The taxpayers are suffering under the high tax rates. There is no more free handouts anymore.
Please No
I have lived in Park Place for 20 years. Please do not reopen the Boys Club. The neighborhood would be better served by tearing down this building. This place is an eyesore. It is not a safe area for children to play. The YMCA is the best choice.