MILTON — Youth Council members want to bring more activities to the Guy Thompson Community Center.
The 14-member council, whose members are from Milton and Pace area middle and high schools, initially explored additional recreational activities for the community center, located on the corner of Byrom Street and Sanders Street. The center regularly schedules programs for senior citizens and youth sports leagues.
Milton’s Parks and Recreation Director John Norton has said there is a void in youth activity at the facility from the end of the school day until the start time of regular youth sports programs. He encouraged members to form a subcommittee and investigate options, then report their findings to Milton elected officials.
Norton also asked the council to consider activities outside the realm of sports, like cooking or dancing lessons.
Youth Council Chair James Poppe asked about the possibility of bringing soccer to the complex. “We want something more local for our community,” he said, adding local youths would have to travel elsewhere to play on an adequate soccer field.
Norton said Optimist Park on Old Bagdad Highway has recreational fields ideal for soccer and lacrosse.
Brooklynne Luedtke suggested the city consider welcoming more youth baseball and softball tournaments. Luedtke, who was also officially sworn in as a new council member with Addison Stokes, witnessed how much a tournament could economically benefit a community.
“They can bring around $7-10,000 just on one weekend,” she said. “These teams pay around $200 to $300 just to enter the tournament.”
After the meeting. Luedtke said a traveling team visiting the area could further benefit the community by staying in local hotels, shopping and eating at area restaurants.
Norton said he was appreciative of Luedtke’s research and welcomed further input and questions.
The next Milton Youth Council meeting is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on April 26 at Milton City Hall.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Milton Youth Council eyes more opportunities for community center