I believe a community center done right will not bankrupt Cook County nor will it exclude any community member. By definition a community center is the gathering place for community members to come together in support of one another. It will not drive young families from the county, but rather serve as a reason that young families want to remain in Cook County.
My experience in raising my son in a city with a community center included these highlights:
1. A family New Year’s Eve Party
that included swimming,
indoor playground activities,
face painting and a balloon
drop at 8:45 p.m. so the “littles”
can ring in the New Year too.
2. Dive in movie nights where we
could swim and watch a movie.
3. Annual Easter Egg Hunts.
5. Kids’ birthday parties.
6. Swimming lessons for all ages,
CPR training, Senior and
Stroke Technique swimming
instruction.
7. Fitness programs, including a
Silver Sneakers fitness program.
8. A kids’ corner preschool
program, Girl and Boy Scout
meetings as well as other
special interest groups.
9. Adult and youth programs that
allowed us to explore a variety
of arts and crafts that I certainly
wouldn’t have done at home.
10. Our local food self where
families worked together to
collect and distribute food to
our neighbors.
But most importantly, we had the opportunity to interact with a broad spectrum of people, kids, adults, seniors, and people with physical and mental challenges that broadened our understanding and appreciation of the world we live in.
Trust and support our Community Center steering committee to design a sustainable, self-supporting building. It’s time to abandon the notion that the existing pool is “good enough.” A pool within the community center allows busy families to “one stop shop” rather than drive to multiple places.
I do agree with one line from Anna Hamilton’s letter: it’s time to speak up in support of growing our community infrastructure and our local economy. Facts are our friends; make your decision based on the facts. It’s time to become part of the solution.
Pat Campanaro
Deer Yard Lake
Leave a Reply