Budget problems may force the city of Youngstown to pull funding of the Parks and Rec Programs.
That leaves a big gap this summer for the city's youth. But a local church and a concerned neighborhood join hands to tackle the problem head on.
"The parks program was an excellent program, but it leaves a gap and we have to keep our kids active," Metro Assembly Pastor Al Yanno said.
Keeping kids active has given the South Avenue Area Neighborhood Development Initiative, or SAANDI, and a local church the opportunity to get those kids off the streets with an organization called "Connections Center." Sunday the two groups gathered to open the doors on the new facility.
"We're not just going to have a drop in center. When they come we want to have a structured environment for them," Pastor Yanno said.
Like many other buildings on South Avenue, this one sat vacant for a year.
That all changed after Metro Assembly of God bought the property and turned it into a center that kids can turn to. Programs will include community service projects, youth programs, and opportunities for education.
"I believe this is a sign that, you know, we are willing to do things on South Avenue and we are willing to do things in the neighborhood," 7th Ward Councilman John Swierz said.
While this center is a step in the right direction, local leaders said there is still more they want to do to revitalize the South Side.
Cleaning up South Avenue will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. And with all the city's budget problems there is just no way they can afford it. However, Councilman Sweirz has other ways to ask for funding.
"We are still going through budget hearings, but there's always places you can find money through grants and foundations, and that's what we're looking at in SAANDI is where we can get moneys other than that."
SAANDI has focus groups to put together specific plans for what needs to be done, then they will ask for grants to start the clean up process.
