THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 2, 1997 TAG: 9701020055
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ELIZABETH THIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: 46 lines
There's new evidence of kids craving for fun in Chesapeake, a city that a number of residents have criticized for not spending enough money on recreation.
The Chesapeake YMCA's enrollment for youth basketball has jumped from about 240 last year to nearly 300 this year, forcing organizers to juggle space and practice times and making the program the most popular in the area.
The Chesapeake YMCA youth basketball roster is expected to top those in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Suffolk and even Portsmouth, which traditionally has had the strongest show of interest with an average of 250 children a year.
Portsmouth and Suffolk still are taking applications for the program, which is for boys and girls ages 5 to 12. Norfolk has about 75 children enrolled; Virginia Beach has 150.
``I didn't count on having this many children this year,'' said George M. Guevara, the Chesapeake YMCA's physical director. ``I was pleasantly surprised. It's a good problem to have.''
To accommodate all the children,Guevara has had to schedule teams for practices and games at both Chesapeake YMCA buildings, in the Greenbrier section. Other cities' YMCAs offer basketball at only one location.
Also, some teams were having to practice as late as 8 p.m. on weeknights. Guevara has managed to shuffle the schedule so youngsters don't have to play that late.
The Chesapeake Parks and Recreation Department also runs a popular youth basketball league. But Guevara said many parents and children choose his program because it's less competitive. The emphasis is on having fun and learning basketball skills, not necessarily winning.
He expects the program to continue to grow.
``We'll have to find a way to make it work,'' he said.
Meanwhile, Chesapeak officials say they are doing what they can to expand recreational activities for all residents. Some residents have complained about the lack of facilities such as public pools and bike trails and a shortage of fields for baseball.
Plans are under way to develop two city parks, one in Deep Creek and one in Hickory, which might include recreation centers. Officials also are keeping their eyes open for more land around the city that could be purchased for recreational use.
KEYWORDS: YMCA BASKETBALL LEAGUE