Playing Smart changelabsolutions.org | kaboom.org 30 Tournament provides a certificate of insurance, and the city pays the organizers to help hold the tournament. The joint use agreements help build community engagement, Walker says, and have generated an active volunteer presence at the courts. “These adults are talking to the kids about having ownership over the park, so they end up wanting to take care of it.” During the first year, Walker says, there was virtually no crime reported at the park. Legends has been such a success that Niagara Falls is investing in additional infrastructure: a path for rollerblading, soccer nets, and exercise equipment around the walking track. Walker says they will likely add intervention programs from other community groups. Niagara Falls provides an excellent example for communities who encounter public resistance around play spaces. City leaders demonstrated their willingness to tackle difficult issues head-on by developing a youth intervention program and offering broad-based programming targeted to neighbor’s needs. The result is a vibrant park that offers inner-city youths and their families a safe, state-of-the-art opportunity for play.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTkzMzk=