Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 6, 1994 TAG: 9411070054
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITE|
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
When young people began hustling over to the Jefferson Center gym by the dozens this summer for a few hours of late-night basketball, sponsors of Roanoke's Midnight Basketball program figured the surge was only temporary.
But the program's popularity stuck. Attendance has dropped just slightly, from an average of 70 participants a night to 60.
The program gained a following. And it left sponsors wondering how, with limited funding, they could continue what was intended as a six-week pilot endeavor.
The program, sponsored by the YMCA of the Roanoke Valley and the Roanoke Department of Parks and Recreation, is paid for with $10,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds.
Three weeks into the program, sponsors realized they had overestimated costs. They extended the program a few weeks into the fall.
Now, sponsors have restructured the program so block grant funding will carry it to next summer.
"Because of [the program's] success, we decided to break it up into eight-week segments with five-week breaks in between and stretch it throughout the rest of the fiscal year," said John Coates, manager of the city Parks and Recreation Department. "That will give us time to explore other sources of funding. There's a possibility we will get more [block grant] funding."
The program - which ended its fall season this weekend and will start its winter season in January - was modeled after Midnight Basketball efforts in larger metropolitan areas. The programs became an often-criticized "pork" ingredient of President Clinton's crime bill.
The Clinton bill, which passed both houses of Congress in August, included funding for "urban recreational" programs, Midnight Basketball included. Coates said the Roanoke program could receive some of that funding.
Sponsors also modified staffing to allow maximum use of money, Coates said. One modification was to hire security guards from a private firm, rather than continue using two Roanoke police officers.
"Part of that decision was because we experienced virtually no conflict whatsoever in the area," he said.
Young men and a few young women take to the courts from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. For many, the program is a late-night alternative to hanging out in the streets.
"We pretty much accomplished what we set out to do," said Millard Bolden, a YMCA program director. "We took a two-week break recently to evaluate our objectives. We came to the conclusion that the program was working. If we can be as effective as other cities, then we can say our goals have been accomplished."
Joe Fields, 23, of Roanoke has been a regular participant since the program started in July.
"It's been wonderful, really, something for us to do late at night instead of hanging out," he said. "It's someplace to get away, where you don't have to worry about trouble."
Fields said participants have taken pride in the program. They have a sense of ownership about it, grateful for a late-night alternative to the streets. "Everybody respects everybody," he said. "The first time you do something bad, that's it. You're out. We like it that way."
Sponsors have explored ways to keep the program fresh, concerned that interest doesn't wane during downtime. When participants return in January, they will play in a new, structured Midnight Basketball league.
"That will mean scheduling games during the same time frame so guys will know when to come, rather than sitting and waiting to play," said Cal Johnson, the YMCA's executive director. "Hopefully, it will involve more folks in the program."
If participation remains high, sponsors may have to consider expanding to a second location, Johnson said.
And what about the program objective - keeping young people off the streets?
"That's a subjective viewpoint," Johnson said. "We think it's providing activities for folks who normally would not have other things to do," he said. "We feel very good about the fact that it's an alternative for folks who may not have an alternative at that time."
by CNB