Laserfiche WebLink
<br />C,II)-':.! <br /> <br />Program Narrative <br /> <br />1. P1'oblemStatement (See Instructions on pages 13a and 13b.) <br /> <br />Since 1991 the City of Paris has had a recurring problem with youth gangs <br />including violence and drug involvement. The city has addressed the problem <br />by increased patrolling, but a prevention effort was needed because the city <br />had very little to occupy young people, ~specially those in the 14 - 18 <br />year-old age group that is most susceptible to gang involvement. <br /> <br />A Police Athletic League (P.A.L.) program was begun in a rented building <br />and quickly grew to serve an estimated 260 regular youth participants. <br />To accomodate the growing program. the Paris Daily News donated a building <br />in downtown Paris that has a great deal of space, covering approximately <br />half a square block of two-story building and an adjoining parking lot. <br />Many of the building's ..rooms are large enough to accomodate basketball and <br />vollyball courts, with some renovation. Other rooms are suitable for karate <br />classes, weightlifting, ping pong, video games, and a regulation Golden <br />Gloves boxing arena. <br /> <br />Much renovation of the building is needed, and that is being addressed <br />by community donations and by an application to the Meadows Foundation. <br /> <br />What is most needed is a full-time coordinator to supervise existing <br />activities, such as karate and weightlifting and boxing programs that <br />~are taught by community volunteers. The coordinator would also schedule <br />additional activities, including an offenders evening program of supervised <br />activities for juveniles referred by the Lamar County Juvenile Prmhation <br />Department. In addition, the coordinator would oversee maintenance and <br />renovation of the building and would meet with community volunteers and <br />civic groups to encourage greater community support of the. program. <br /> <br />2, Historical Data (See Instructions on pages 13a and 13b.) <br /> <br />SEE PROBLEM STATEMENT <br /> <br />Use continuation page(s) as necessary for any section. <br />