THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 6, 1996 TAG: 9609060507
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JOAN C. STANUS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 77 lines
David Block worries every time his 11-year-old son goes outside to play on the busy streets surrounding his Colonial Place home.
But, until recently, kids in the neighborhood who wanted to play basketball or go skating had no other option. The nearest recreation facility is in Park Place, a lengthy hike across heavily traveled roads and an area teeming with traffic and drug activity.
``I don't want him going over there,'' Block said. ``I want to keep him in the neighborhood.
Now his son won't have to cross dangerous intersections to shoot a few hoops with his friends. He won't have to play on the streets, either. After an appeal by Block and other concerned Colonial Place parents, city and school officials have agreed to resurrect nearby Stuart School as a neighborhood recreation facility for after-school and weekend activities.
A magnet school for gifted students and an early childhood development center, at one time Stuart also doubled as a neighborhood recreation facility. But in the '70s, as budgets tightened and the city's philosophy about the use of schools changed, recreational activities were discontinued.
The school still is equipped with a gymnasium, activities office, arts and crafts rooms, restrooms and storage area. A playground and neighborhood greenway also is located alongside school grounds.
Now, Norfolk educators and parks and recreation officials have done an about-face. Schools are being embraced as the spiritual centers of neighborhoods and a solution to providing smaller pockets of the city with affordable - and safe - community centers. It's also a way to get the most bang out of the city's construction bucks.
In addition to Stuart, three other city schools already double as recreational facilities. Oceanair and Poplar Hall elementary schools, and Lafayette-Winona Middle School, are open for neighborhood kids after school and on weekends.
``It's all part of our commitment to community schooling,'' explained Stanley Stein, director of parks and recreation. ``It's a three-way partnership. Civic leagues agree to provide volunteers and do some fund-raising. The school system provides the space and some janitorial service. And we do our part by hiring staff to oversee the programs.''
Stein says he has invested $22,000 into opening Stuart, primarily to pay the salary of a part-time recreational supervisor. That outlay is far less than it would be to build and staff a new facility, he pointed out.
For a neighborhood like Colonial Place, largely composed of young families with working parents, a center close enough for neighborhood children to walk to is vital, Block noted. He figures at least 500 kids live in the community, between Granby Street and Colley Avenue.
``A lot of them are latch-key kids,'' said Block, a 43-year-old real estate agent. ``We want kids to have a place to go . . . not as child care . . . but as a place they'll find organized activities supervised by professionals or adult volunteers, rather than being on the streets or at home alone. If you leave kids to their own devices, that's when they get into trouble.''
Initially, recreational activities at Stuart will consist primarily of board games, basketball, table tennis and homework tutoring. A parents' advisory board is being formed to develop future plans. Block said an interest in establishing various athletic leagues also has been expressed by some residents.
``The ultimate plans will be driven by the community,'' he said. ``Parks and recreation have a whole menu we can choose from. But we have to do our part, too. If we don't find out what turns these kids on, they won't come.''
Worse, they'll continue to use the streets as a playground.
``We can't let that happen,'' Block said. ``We're committed to making this work.'' ILLUSTRATION: Graphic GRAND OPENING
Colonial Place residents will celebrate the grand opening of the
neighborhood's new community center at Stuart School with a picnic
and potluck dinner from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday on the greenway next to
the school.
Hamburgers, hot dogs and drinks will be provided. Residents are
asked to bring a covered dish to share with others.
Tours will be given of the recreational facilities. There will be
sports demonstrations, musical entertainment and other performances.
Stuart School is located at 446 Virginia Ave. by CNB