Playground program popular
The Paul Laurence Dunbar Community Center is having a successful start to its summer playground program.
It offers 11 weeks of activities through Aug. 23 at four playgrounds in the city.
“I think it's going well,” said Heather Dovenspike, director of the program. “We have a lot more kids than we thought we'd have.”
The four locations are Father Marinaro Park and the Institute Hill, Christie Avenue and Broad Street playgrounds.
According to Christine Rockcastle, a youth activities leader with the Dunbar Center, the participation has been good.
“We're averaging about 25 to 30 kids per day depending on the weather,” said Rockcastle, who works at the Father Marinaro Park. “But we're out here rain or shine.”
There is a different theme to each week of the program and a variety of activities offered to the youths each day.
“It's really fun,” said Summer Walker, 11, of Butler. “I like to do the arts and crafts. And karaoke.”
She has been at the Father Marinaro Park frequently throughout the summer.
“I come out here almost everyday,” Summer said. “I really like it, and the staff is nice.”
The program also supplies free lunches Monday through Friday to any child under 18 at Father Marinaro Park, the Broad Street playground, the First United Methodist Church, the Butler Junior High School, and at the Dunbar Center.
Rockcastle said perhaps the biggest draw is the free lunches, which Dovenspike said it is a vital part to the program.
“Unfortunately, in the case of Broad Street, they have an 89 percent free and reduced lunch rate,” Dovenspike said. “So this is the best meal some of these kids get during the day.”
The free lunches come from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is managed by the state Department of Education.
Each meal has of meat, bread, fruits, vegetables, milk and a snack. D'Anthony's Restaurant and Catering on Evans City Road is contracted by the center to supply the meals.
The playground activities are geared toward both fun and educational programming.
Bill Young, a retired engineer, is an activities leader with the center and enjoys teaching math and science.Young shows demonstrations on topics ranging from Newton's Laws of Motion to algebra.He hopes the children recognize the principles he has taught them when they return to school.Children through age 18 are welcome, and there is a diversity in age among the participants.“We have a good mix,” Rockcastle said. “At the center it is primarily younger, but we have kids that are 5 years old, teenagers, preteens.”Rockcastle said that while the age difference among the children can be difficult to manage, it also has great benefits.“It can be a challenge at times, but it's nice to see older kids helping younger kids with activities,” she said. “Hopefully they really get something out of it.”Young said his experience helping the children as an adult is certainly rewarding.“I've relearned a lot about raising kids,” he said. “And I love to see the smiles on their faces.”This year's summer program will continue through Aug. 23.For information, visit www.dunbarcenter.org.The Dunbar Center also will host after-school programming during the school year.
