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whatsup
Member
33 Posts |
 Posted - 11/01/2008 : 1:50:55 PM
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I hear the Rec Center and all its programs (including the toddler ones) are in danger of closing and being moved to the old high school. Supposedly a Boys and Girls Club is going to be on the site of the old high school. Apparently the city wants to combine the Rec with the Boys and Girls Club in the same building. Now why would you take such a positive thing as the Rec and move it? In case you don't know, the toddler and kindergarten programs that go on in there during the day are fabulous and I have been going there for 7 yrs. That location has parking and just being in that building is a nice secure feeling. I'm not saying the old high school is unsafe, but now you will have to feed the meters, if you can find a spot. Traffic on Broadway is always busy. And the main thing is the building will be open to everyone not just everett residents. The whole idea of the Rec is that it is for OUR EVERETT YOUTH. People were happy when the skate park was taken down b/c now kids from other cities would not hang there. Then when the Chelsea pool opened it made ours less crowded.
I need to reach out to Massdee, Tails and Tetris. You guys have good info and know where to look. Could you check for me the actual role of the Rec and does the council, alderman or Mayor have the authority to move the programs out of there? And more importantly do they have the authority to transfer the Rec to the high school for their own private use???
Any info or help you could give me would be greatly appreciated. Mothers and Fathers of these children and future children have a fight ahead of them if this is actually true.
I found this on Craigslist so I'm guessing the Boys and Girls part is at least somewhat true.
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Thank You in advance.
I am a VERY CONCERNED PARENT worried about the future of the Rec and all it's programs that are in place for the CHILDREN OF THE CITY OF EVERETT.
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 11/01/2008 : 3:16:33 PM
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Whatsup, I would suggest you and anyone else that is interested in this issue, email or call every elected official in this city. Let them know what your concerns are and ask them all the questions that you have. You can request one of the officials to have it added to their meeting's agenda and have the mayor answer your concerns. I have been hearing this was in the works for a couple of weeks now.
What I heard was that the EHS's football team weight room is being moved to the rec center. God forbid we make sure the youth of this city are taken care of before the football team!
Another direction I would send you in is to do a little research with Woodlawn Cemetery. I think they donated that property to the city with a specific use mandated in the gift. I know they donated Glendale Park, so I am guessing about the rec property but it is worth looking into.
On the City's web site you can get the email addresses and phone number and street addresses for all the elected officials.
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I hope this will help give you a starting point. |
Edited by - massdee on 11/01/2008 4:44:24 PM |
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Tails
Administrator
2682 Posts |
Posted - 11/02/2008 : 08:20:10 AM
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I am NOT in favor of the Rec Center moving in any capacity and will object to it. I think it's at a terrific spot. I wish there were more programs for the High School when they get out of school. It is unfortunate that they majority of those children go home to empty houses and can access what ever they want on the world wide web.
Children today have changed a bit since I was young, and I'm telling you, they will NOT walk to the Old High School. It will be inconvenient. That was one of the things that I liked about the High School going in that area, you have the rec center and the hockey rink. We need a rec center director, and I knew something was up when Rick was let go and not replaced.
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Edited by - Tails on 11/02/2008 08:21:22 AM |
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tetris
Moderator
2040 Posts |
Posted - 11/02/2008 : 09:37:41 AM
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I have a lot of thoughts about this. Too many in fact to put them in a quick post. I worked on a reply for about an hour last night and I barely feel like I scratched the surface. I'll continue to work on it and post it when it is ready.
However, for now at least, let me say that I believe the city needs to explain its plans in full so that a fair assessment of it can be made. I'd start with the mayor. If the mayor is not receptive to you, you'll need to find one or more persons on the city council to champion the cause. Believe or not, I might even suggest Alderman Matewsky. I believe that there is a family relationship there with Sammy Gentile who the Rec is named after. Matewsky has taken great exception in the past when it was suggested that the Rec might be used for something else. If not him, I'm sure that there would be someone on the council who would be willing to champion the cause at least to the point where all of the questions surrounding the issue have been asked and answered.
There's not much that I'm aware of in the city charter or ordinances that could control this change. The City Clerk might be a good resource for anything that exists above and beyond those.
To be honest, without the entire plan being on the the table and all of the related questions having been asked and answered, I don't know how I feel about the issue. However I do respect your opinion and I am willing to do what I can to help insure that we all get what we need to decide how we view it.
I'll continue to work on that longer post as time allows. If it gets too long, I'll post it in logical pieces. |
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Rec Center Programs being moved to old high school
