6.4. SR 07-08-1996BOARD
ITEl4 6.4.
· Dayton · Elk River · Hassan ·ISD 728 · Livonia · Otsego · Rogers · Zimmerman
1230 School Street NW · Elk River, MN 55330 · (612) 241-3523 · IAX (612) 241-3521
July 2, 1996
To: City of Elk River Mayor & Council
Fr: Jeff Asfahl~':~'~
Re: Update On "Youth Initiatives"
At the urging of Mayor Duitsman several months ago, Community Recreation staff have been paying
much attention to developing increased leisure time opportunities for our area youth. This attention to
youth needs has lead to a plan for increased opportunities at Lions Park and a strategy for the long
term as well, that relies on the effort of the whole community. I will be at your July 8th meeting to
further explain these initiatives and answer any questions that you may have. .,
Additionally, you will find attached other pieces of information related to 'our efforts associated with
the development of these youth initiatives.
I /.I
Space
Continued from page 1
space, new or used.
Chris'Kelly, a senior, said.
students even liked the
~]~illlards, (no longer in busi-
ness) because it was a place
for them and where they did-
n't get kicked out..'Yfhat we
need is the-right' environ-
She urged the laaders P
act and study community cen-
ters around the area to see
what has worked.
Students, she said, want a
lounge area, with a snack
area, even a television room
where clean,' wholesome
movies could be shown.
Kelly said youth don't care if
the space is used, leased or
new. 'It's what's inside tlmt
counts,' she said. '
Jared Lee, 'a junior, told the
Recreation Board to focus on
the roller r~nk and skateboard
area..'Kids in soorts have
activities already," he said.
'They want a variety of
activities," .* said Leah
~nd?aah!, a s~homore.
Fouo _wing ' the -panel,
Recreation Board President
Roger Holmgren said what's
__missing is a youth facilitator.
He said the Recreation Board
will look at hiring that k~,d o£
person.
The board is made up of'rep-
ego, ~ _~merman, Livonla
Township, Dayton, Rogers
Hessan .Township -
Tho- board honored 'R on
Black for his leadership and
service with the first Pioneer
Award, a certificate signed by
Governor Arne Carlson and a
framed picture of a 1924
Ahrens Fox Model J. 715-gal-
model owned by Black.
goutfi
Data 5ummaw
Presented May 30, 1996
Youth Summit Questions and Answers
1. "We often hear: 'There's nothing to do!' If there could be something to do,
what would it be?"
Community Center/YMCA/Youth center
Sporting Goods Store
Roller Rink/Skateboard Track/Arcade
Night Club/Dance Clubs
More Open Gym Time
Snowboarding Hill
Weight Lifting
Boxing
More Fairs
Handball Teams
After School Classes-Language/Sign Language
Shopping-Group Tdp to Mall of America
More Intramural Sports (soccer)
Summer Gymnastics (boys)
Summer Soccer Leagues
Wave Pool/Outdoor
Soccer Arena
Taxicab Service
Play Auditions (for all ages)
More Basketball Courts (Zimmerman & Rogers)
Use Old Arena in Summer
Beach Volleyball Teams
Summer Wrestling
Girls Football Teams
Health Club
Sports Arena
Coed Soccer
Volleyball
Softball
Trails that join Zimmerman
Lazer Tag
Roller Hockey
Karate
Billiards
Splat Ball
Skiing Tdps
Beach Parties
New Equipment
Arts Activities
(sculpting)'
Bike Trails
Roller Blade
Field Trips
& Rogers
2. "If you had the 'something' to do, what makes it hard to participate in that
.· · ~,,
sometmng.
Live too far away - Transportation - Can't Drive
No one left to take care of younger siblings
Too many people at Open Gyms
Parent Permission - Trust
Don't Like Adult Supervision, Unfriendly/
Poor Facilities - Not Clean
Not enough Equipment for all to use
Need New Technology
Too Many Rules
Age Limit, I'm Too Young
Homework
Gender Limitations
Self- Consciousness
Short Hours
Not enough Staff
Not enough Facilities
Money
Curfews
Chores
Safety
Uncomfortable
Handicap
Lack of Interest
3. "What can be accomplished in 5-6 years (before you graduate)?"
Bike Trails - BMX Track
Water Park/Wave Pool/Outdoor Pool
Skate Park- Roller Blade - Skate Boarding
Groomed Snowmobiling Trails
Build Things in Rogers & Zimmerman
More Transportation - More Developed -
Bussing
Organize Volunteers to Construct
Temporarily Raise Taxes
Dance Club
Batting Gages
Go Carts
Horseback Riding
Pave Lions Park Trails
Build another School
More Fairs / Festivals
Indoor Soccer Fields
Ddving Range
Mini Golf
Bumper Boats
Nature Center
More Housing
More Restaurants
Hobby Shop
Purchase land farther down 169 aqd in Otsego for building
Health Club- Pool, Weight Room, Basketball, Track, Tennis/Racketball Courts, Rock Climbing
4. "When we offer something, how can we get a variety of kids your age to
come?"
Kids baby-sit so adults have free time to build
Cheap Admission / Free Passes
Buses for those who can't drive
Publicize Teen Supervision (Freedom)
Tdal Memberships
Grand Opening
Door Prizes
Lots of Food
Word of Mouth
Contests
Special Nights
Celebrities
Survey in Community Kids make More Decisions Kids Raise Money
Advertisement - Newspaper, Posters, Flyers, Announcements at Schools, Radio, Commercials, Road
Signs, Print Information on Grocery Bags
5. "What can you / I do to make all this happen?"
Drive the Ice Cream Truck/Plane/Blimp Give our Ideas
Participate in Fund Raisers Mascots
Give out Flyers on Car Windows Make it Sound Good
Free Trial Membership Grand Openings
Drive in Ice Cream Trucks & use Megaphones Blimp with Banner
Give Free Stuff (Door Prizes) Sky Writing
Volunteer at Places
Make it Fun
Put in Paper
Billboards
Door to Door
"Help us with the staffing obstacle - what would be best?"
Hire a Youth Director
Volunteers
Hire Kids
Senior High Students
College Students
Peer Helpers
~,~' Beatin' hjour~el£ up 'cu~ there'~ nothin' to do?
~,,::,,,¥:?'~'"? Check u~ out!
Lion' Park
It' Place to
You ~aid you wanted a place to hang out and we lis-,tened.
We'll provide staff Monday- Friday from 4
- 9pm. The shelter will be open and we
are working to make it into a lounge area.
We'll be spending time each day planning
the Special Events that will occur every
other Friday, as well as Community
Service Projects.
You'n ~ve a blanc!
Grades 5-9
Staff and activities provided by the City of Elk River and Community Recreation
For more information or any questions, please call Community Recreation at 241-3523
Beach Pa~§ Blowout!
Vollek~ball
Frida§, June
6:00-9:00pm
Good time guaranteed!
Food
['Fates. vii.
Hot Dog, Chip~, Pop
Lions Park Activity Center
Beginning June 24th, throughout the summer, Monday Thru Friday evenings from 4- 9:00pm, Lions
Community Park will open up its Shelter as a youth meeting space with a variety of opportunities for
youth ( target age range Grade 5-9 )to become a part of. Through a contribution of the Lions Club,
the trails will soon be paved along with the inside of the hockey boards and a freestyle type area
suitable for rollerblades and skateboards. Community Recreation Board and District 728 Community
Education staff representatives believe that these improvements lend themselves very well for
making this a groat site for numerous other positive youth and community opportunities. The space
inside the shelter will be made moro inviting attempting to provide a lounge type atmosphere. This
gathering spot will be facilitated by a Supervisor and a staff of student associates who will encourage
and work toward meeting the following:
Possible Goals / Objectives:
- organize a youth management/planning team
- provide a "youth Friendly" environment that enables positive youth opportunities and development
- involve the youth in projects that aro beneficial to the community
- accommodate further development of youth opportunities and awareness to all other existing youth
opportunities
- encourage participation and a sense of community for all generations
Staff find these opportunities to be exciting and allow for involvement from the whole community.
)pportunities are plentiful for all segments of the community. Some examples are:
- Business to support via monetary donation, equipment donation, or donation of a special skill.
- Individuals to support by sharing time. talent and expertise
- Organizations to partner with the youth management / planning team
Also taking place simultaneously is a plan to unite all interested parties that have a stake in
promoting positive youth development. Community Recreation Board and District 728 Community
Education staff representatives believe that the moro broad-based community support for a plan to
accommodate positive youth development, the more likely any endeavor will be sustained and
successful. Community Education and Community Recreation will be hosting a community meeting
inviting all who have a stake in supporting our youth. This meeting will allow input and discussion on
concepts associated with providing youth a place "To Go & To Be". This meeting will take place on
Tuesday July 16, 1996 - 7:00 am - at the Community Education Center.
Youth
Continued from page 1
people.
Young people will be set~
the rules, said Je~ Asphal,
director of the Co,~-~unity
Recreat/on program.
The youth will be
special events and contracting
with some local bands.
Young people will help ix up
the warming house as a
lounge with some programs,
furniture and vending
machines.
This will be a place where
parents can drop off their kids
while they go shopping, said
donate a t~levi~i, on set ami a
radio ami some furni~u-e.
Elk River Coun~l Member
Roger I--Iolmgmn, who is presi-
dcm of the Commullity
Recreation progr~m~ said this
sta~ could lead to a bigger
project so tthat kids would
have a place all year around.
An al~r-s~ool
tion system is also being
planned.
Youth wrestled last week
during the "Sumo Summer
Kick-Off" event put on by
Community Recreation.
Seed of youth
center planted
in Lions Park
Students in fifth through the
ninth grades will have a safe
and drug-free place to go
Mondays through Fridays at
the Lions Community Park
from 4 to 9 p.m.
The city of Elk River has
appropriated $4,000 to begin
what may be a youth center,
with activities plznned by the
youth.
Friday the kickoff will be at
Lions Park with music, a disk
jockey and food.
Adult supervision will be
provided through the
Community Recreation pro-
Elk River Mayor Hank
Duitsman has been persistent
in finding a place for young
Youth continued to page 15
DRAFT - Compiled in cooperation with Comm. Ed. and Comm. Rec. Staff
General outline of presentation: "A Place to Go and Be'
12 June 1996
.1. History/background:
A. past efforts and expedences.
About 1984, a collaboration of youth-serving professionals calling themselves the Committee for Bare
Streets fostered a program through Community Education known as CBS. This program served
senior and junior high, in an attempt to offer social and entertainment opportunities for teens: pig
roasts, open gyms, dances and other organized events. They accumulated video games, TV's,
Nintendo sets & games, sports equipment, a big screen TV, pizza ovens, a microwave, tuner and
cassette deck, and stereo speakers. This equipment has been passed on to subsequent programs.
The program evolved into 728 YOUTH which still exists today, organizing dances, parties and
summer outings for teens and now pre-teens as well.
In 1991, Community Education organized a summer "hang-out" spot known as the YOU.
Intended for kids in grades 5-9, it offered a supervised open gym spot for basketball, video games,
puzzles, pinball, card/board games and just a spot to be with friends. It functioned only dudng
summer weeks, late June into August, in elementary school gyms close to the mall, and was
hampered by the need for school spaces to be cleaned and prepped for the school year, gym floors
to be stripped and sealed. It had no place to be during the school year due to heavy gym use, so
suffered from lack of continuity and ease of promotion during summer months. About the time it
became known, it closed for the year. In 1994 & 1995, it was moved for 2 weeks each summer to
Zimmerman and Rogers, with good success in both locations the first year, success at Rogers only in
1995. Attendance last summer, 1995, in Elk River was sparse to non-existent. Staffing did not appear
to be the cause for lack of interest, since the same staff in previous summers was valued by the kids
for their attitude and fair play, friendliness.
Program strengths have been siting the YOU in a busy residential area that seems to be
highly visible on a travel route for kids. The program itself is not highly structured allowing kids to do
their own programming nightly, setting their own agenda based on who's there. Staff has been a
definite plus, maintaining a balance between discipline without seeming authoritarian, encouraging all
kids to be a participant in some way. Shortcomings come down to lack of a means to promote to and
contact kids dudng the summer months of operation. The seasonal nature of the center prohibited an
establishment of a routine that had some continuity and allowed for expansion based on word-of-
mouth. It was here and then it was gone for another 9 months. Having no permanent home, location
or consistent on-going space hampered growth of a reputation and an identifiable "home" that would
be a magnet for longer than 3 months at a time.
In conclusion, there has been some history in this area for doing things for kids, including a
youth center. While we acknowledge the attractiveness of such a proposition, we have the
experience to know the obstacles and audience quirks that make such a center a challenge.
B. other supporting youth oriented efforts and research: I
Issues associated with youth and "things or a place" have been the subject of concern and
investigation recently in numerous areas. The 2001 Committee has a long history of interest in youth.
The Community Youth Task Force which came about as part of 2001 efforts has studied this issue for
nearly 3 years and has recently launched their recommendations. Superintendent David Flannery
has asked Community Education to investigate a model program in Bumsville that specifically serves
the Junior High age. Several residents have been exploring the feasibility of a Boys and Gids Club
and there have been other groups that have been advocating for a Community Center of sorts for
youth opportunities. And Steve Davis a Junior High instructor conducted some surveys as to youth
interests as well. Taking place dudng this same pedod were the efforts of the Youth Initiatives
Committee as charged by Mayor Hank Duitsman. These efforts resulted in a 'Youth Summit' that via
a focus study with 90 Junior High students produced information to help with our planning as well.
2. Qualifier / risks:
There are no doubt dozens if not hundreds of examples of communities in which a "youth
center'' or'' youth hangout" has appeared, only to disappear in a relatively short time. Many adults
may recall such places from their own youth experiences. To be sure, a center or hangout will need
to be responsive to student interests and needs, and will need to evolve from week to week or month
to month. One inescapable aspect of youth is that they characteristically have a wide vadety of
interests and they need to explore those interests. In some cases what was a very popular place in
the fall can become passe by the winter or spdng, and this is a dsk which is not lost on the writers of
this proposal. A couple of key ingredients which should help assure better longevity: 1 .) a
community-wide "buy-in" to the concept-we need the support of the entire community. The center
should not be viewed as the creation of only one or two agencies or entities; it needs to belong to the
community. 2.) youth need to be very closely tied to all decision-making aspects of any proposed
center; location, goals, philosophy, activities, food choices, etc. No decision should be too large or
small to have youth involved in helping to make that decision.
3. General concepts/aspects of a successful approach:
a. collaborative project
b. community-based (not just school district or municipality)
-faith community
-health community
-businesses
-service clubs
-individuals
-youth
-families
-law enforcement
-Elk River 2001
-Community Youth Task Fome
-Citizen's League
-Healthy Communities Initiative
-Boy's and Girl's Club group
-CASEY group
-municipalities
-school distdct
-grants
c. youth involved in partnership--do it with, not for or to youth.
including goal development and steps in the process.
Involve from the outset,
4. Two-step process: 1.) this summer: stopgap approach using Lion's Park
2.) longer term approach with site somewhere else that can serve as a year-
round home.
PROUDLY PRESENTS
Sumo Summer Kickoff
An Elk River Youth Initiative
Join us for this action packed evening at the
Senior High on Thursday, June 20 from 7-9pm!
We will be introducing new programs that will be available this
summer.
Sumo Wrestling
Grades
5-9
Weight Room
open Gyms
Concessions Available
Electronic Baseball &
Basketball Games
Pizza provided at a discount by Dominos
Fee is $1 in advance, payable at the Community
Recreation office, or $2 at the door.
241-3523