By Kalin Krohe, Panhandle Post
The Alliance City Council recently approved $19,060 of ACE (Public Alliance for Community Energy) funds for the Alliance Recreation Center's new playground.
ACE funds are used for community betterment projects.
"First of all playgrounds build healthy kids," Alliance Recreation Center (ARC) Director Mara Andersen said. "Research shows that kids on the playground learn how to play. They build strong social skills, it improves their self-esteem. Playgrounds also encourage activity. That activity addresses obesity, but it also gives an opportunity to facilitate positive engagement between children and parents. Providing that positive environment is an opportunity to decrease the amount of time they spend potentially in negative things like drugs, alcohol and criminal activity. Playgrounds also impact classroom learning. Research shows that free play on the playground helps kids build their imagination, helps them develop their critical thinking skills, helps them build adaptive and social skills...also leadership skills and it actually increase their attention span."
Andersen noted that the ARC's new playground would be used by the whole community.
"Our playground extends community access not only to all of the general public, but also to those families who live east of Flack Avenue...who live out on Meadowlark...who live in Trailerville...who live on east 3rd Street," Andersen said. "All of those families right now have to cross a highway to access a playground. Our playground will provide access to those families."
Andersen said kids participating in the ARC's afterschool program voted on this playground project.
"They ask me all the time, when will they get their playground," Andersen said. "With ARC afterschool kids immediately this playground project will double the amount of play time that they receive during the school week. We will make an instant impact. You should also know the community supports it. "
The ARC has raised $37, 745. The total playground cost is under $57,000.
"First National Bank of Omaha noted the power of play in our project," Andersen said. "They turned around and they matched all of the monetary and in-kind donations that we received thus far. They granted us $25,000. They joined 76 other families and businesses here in town locally who already support this project. I wanted to let you know that the balance of just over $19,000 that I am requesting of you meets that project. Your support this year builds this playground this year."
Andersen then went on to tell a story about a child in the ARC afterschool program.
"I will refer to him as Ben, to keep his identity private," Andersen said. "He comes and sees me about everyday. I am not the program director, I am not the person in the classroom. Usually if they see me I'm more of the principal figure, which I definitely like. Ben comes and sees me when social situations get a little overwhelming for him. I say little, they're not little to him. Ben comes and builds puzzles in my office. He comes and tells me 4,000 things about his day. To say Ben's life is challenging, is putting it so very mildly. Ben is what we would consider an opportunity. He is the kind of opportunity that I'm asking you to invest in. 53% of ARC afterschool enrollment is identified as belonging to a low income household. It pretty well translates to what we are seeing already in the elementary schools. What we're doing in terms of supporting homework, providing the physical activity, providing this playground eventually...everything we're doing there are going to help kids like Ben right now, but also in the long term."
Councilwoman Annora Bentley asked Andersen where the playground equipment would be located. Anderson said the playground would be located north of the ARC building where the old hockey rink is now.
"We have a shovel ready project right here that we could get done this year that people could use," said Councilman Earl Jones. "I would really like to make a commitment to this project. I really believe in it. As a member of Activate Alliance I can attest to all the research that we have had that indicates how important this activity is. And it's not a huge ask."
Mayor Mike Dafney had one problem with the project.
"The only problem I have with it, is that you're duplicating a lot of the equipment that we have in our own parks," Dafney said. "That's my major hold up right now for me."
Councilman Jones said he has a park near his residence.
"The kids out at Meadows Trailer Court have the Lions park out there," Jones said. "Up on 16th Street they have a park up there. Where's the park for these kids? The Central Park has Central Park down there...Laing Lake for that area of town. Where's the park for that area of town Mike? I would like to see us do something for that section of town. The other thing I really like about this is. We get a playground that we don't have to maintain. The ARC does."
Mayor Dafney said he understood.
After a little more discussion, every council member voted to approve ACE funds for Alliance Recreation Center.
"I appreciate your time," Andersen said. "And I appreciate that you have a lot of things on your plate. I just really wanted you to see that this is a project that I really do believe in and it's going to make such a great impact."
In other business, council:
-Approved the Big Horn Avenue water main bid award to Hennings Construction of Gering.
-Approved to purchase two 2013 Ford Interceptors for the Alliane Police Department, a Viper NextGen 911 system and install four Motorola dispatch consoles and connection to the SRS at the law enforcement center.
-Heard a Strategic Plan presentation from Alliance Police Chief Philip Lukens.
-Authorized the city to provide financial support up to $125,580 to the City of Alliance Public Transit grant renewal to the Nebraska Department of Transportation for an additional two years.