New summer programs are coming to Comer Cox Park for children and teens. And the park district is hiring local young adults to staff it.
The City of Springfield and the Springfield Park District announced in a news release Friday that new programs will begin at the park in July. They will be free to the public and will be funded through community development block grants.
“Through this strong partnership with the City of Springfield, we can deliver innovative and impactful programs while creating new first-time employment opportunities and meaningful on-the-job training programs for youth in our community. “Springfield Park District Board Chairman Leslie Sgro wrote. in the press release.
Exact activities aren’t set in stone, but the Park District hires program associates to help administer day camps for kids in addition to planning free events for teens during evenings and weekends. . The district wants to hire young adults between the ages of 15 and 22 seeking employment opportunities for the first time, according to the release.
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Ward 2 Ald. Shawn Gregory, who represents the area surrounding Comer Cox Park, as well as Ward 3 Ald. Roy Williams worked with the city and the park district to try to implement programs in the park.
“This is a historic park in our city and we want to partner with the park district to really make it better,” Gregory said after the June 15 city council meeting. At the meeting, Gregory said he was asking for $500,000 in tax increase funding dollars from the city for improvements to the park.
Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder has repeatedly emphasized that the park is a valuable asset to the community and worth investing money in to unlock its full potential.
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“The Springfield Park District is uniquely positioned with its facilities and programming to provide this training to Springfield’s teens and young adults. … We look forward to this new partnership and are happy to see this kind of hands-on experience available in our community,” Langfelder wrote in the press release.
Those interested in getting involved or registering for the new programs are encouraged to visit springfieldparks.org or contact Marty Strieker, Superintendent of Programming and Events, by calling (217) 753-2800, ext. 2003 or by emailing mstrieker@springfieldparks.org.
Contact Riley Eubanks: reubanks@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@rileyeubanks
