The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Economy down, parks attendance up

Prepare a Black Friday game plan
11/22/09
Not in class? See you in court
11/22/09
First week's food drive donations set record
11/22/09
Doctors differ over weight loss surgery procedures
11/22/09
Ohio 10th fattest state, according to obesity report
11/22/09
> More headlines

By Richard Wilson, Staff Writer 11:02 PM Tuesday, June 30, 2009

HAMILTON — With unemployment above 11 percent and wages being reduced for many who have jobs, the recession is forcing local residents to cut back on discretionary spending.

As a result, there’s an increased need for free activities provided by the city’s parks and recreation division, which has been hit hard by deep cuts to its budget and staff.

That’s the last thing the city should cut in an economic downturn, said Karri Marshall, one of several who have voiced that opinion to city leaders.

Marshall, a Park Avenue resident who manages the Lane Public Library Bookmobile, said her wages have been cut and she’s being forced to take furlough days. She said finding things to do for children that doesn’t cost a lot of money is tough.

“We’re reduced to taking them to what the city provides, and that’s the parks,” she said.

She’s not alone. Attendance to recent parks programs has been off the charts, according to Bob Harris, who was recently demoted from director of parks and recreation.

The Summer Playground Program drew 469 youths last week, up about 34 percent from the same time last year, Harris said. The same pattern is happening with the summer series of free concerts and movies. Last week, an estimated 500 bags of popcorn were given away by the AllWealth Credit Union to more than 450 attendees of the Movie in the Park at the North End Athletic Complex, Harris said. Nearly 250 people attended the Concert in the Park last week by Virginia Avenue, Harris added.

According to Councilman Jim Noonan, keeping parks and recreation was a priority as council members discussed cutting budgets.

“Everyone in that back room said, ‘we want to keep the parks division,’” Noonan said in response to questions at the last council meeting.

Major parks programs will be kept and the public works division will help maintain shelters, mow grass and pick up trash at the parks, said Deputy City Manager Rob Smith.

Other programs may be scaled back or eliminated, he said.

“There’s only so much we can do with reduced personnel,” he said. “I think the public will see a little bit of change but it won’t be much.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2122 or rwilson@coxohio.com.

Share this article