What To Do For Youth

The Waitsburg City Council last Wednesday listened to comments during a hearing about the BMX track proposal initiated by Tawnya and Greg McVey.

Late last year, the council voted to deny the use of up to five acres of city-owned land to site the track, and it did so again on Wednesday night, after its members heard brought up some old and some new concerns about the land-use proposal.

We welcome the council's thoughtful effort to explore the possibility of this youth activity and the research several members did to see if it would be viable for the city. The council and Mayor Walt Gobel raised some fair questions about the project.

Although the hearing would have been more complete if the McVeys had been given a chance to answer councilors' questions and concerns, two things were clear at the meeting: this council does not see enough merit in the proposal and project advocates aren't yet ready to move forward.

What's also clear from what was said during the hearing and by members of the council afterward, is that there seems to be plenty of interest in the community for youth projects.

Plenty of time and energy has gone into the research for this project by those who want it and those who don't feel it's the best idea, at least at this time.

We feel there is no question about the need for healthy recreational activities for youths in this town. And despite the potential of the BMX concept, it would be appropriate for a limited number of children - those who have an interest in the sport and those whose parents can afford it.

So, even if the BMX track came to fruition (perhaps on private land), it would leave plenty of opportunities to explore other initiatives that aren't as seasonal and meet the needs of other children.

The Waitsburg school district alone has 325 students, many of whom play sports and many of whom don't. There are extracurricular programs in and outside the school, but there is still a need for more.

We believe the McVeys should be encouraged to pursue their dream of creating a BMX facility for Waitsburg. But we also feel there has to be a bigger community push for the creation of other youth activities.

We propose that the council, particularly those members who have reiterated their general support for youth activities, and a group of dedicated citizens who have long been involved in implementing or supporting youth programs, come together in a forum to take inventory of the possibilities.

We feel it's time for a commission - call it the Waitsburg Youth Commission - that has the backing of the council and various special youth interests in town. It would be a volunteer body that draws on youth advocates in and outside of the school district, the service clubs (Lions and perhaps the Commercial Club), youth groups such as the Rainbow Girls, the Boy Scouts, 4-H, FFA and others, and churches to take a broad look at what exists and what can be added.

The BMX track, a skateboard park, better use of the Fairgrounds and other private initiatives should be a part of the "inventory" of possible activities.

First, this would allow more time and space for projects like the McVeys' to be explored before they were brought before the council, and second, it would broaden community support for such initiatives. It would provide a chance for surveys among our kids to identify their interests and needs.

It might also bring more volunteer resources for the gathering of funds, in-kind donations and expertise. And it would allow members of the community to channel their energy into projects that a diverse group of local actors buy into.

This commission would function much like the Planning Commission or the Historic Preservation Commission or the Economic Revitalization Committee.

We also support Mayor Walt Gobel's proposal to add a non-voting member to the council who is selected from the junior class at Waitsburg High School. This would provide an ongoing perspective on council matters pertaining to our younger residents and give a qualified student a chance to take on this government task as a senior project before they graduate.

We hope the council will take an interest in exploring this idea at one of its upcoming meetings.