Youth in the Park

The cornerstone of the Franklin Park Coalition's youth programs is the Youth Conservation Crew. In 2008, 34 teens will have paid summer jobs, doing landscape work and leading park activities. The program teaches them about careers in forestry and park management, and helps them become leaders in the park community. If you're out in the park on summer days you'll see the Crew in their green t-shirts. Please stop and introduce yourself, let them know how you use the park, and appreciate their hard work!

To address escalating street violence, a few summers ago the Crew began a drop-in Youth Sports Night to give neighborhood teens a place to hang out on Thursday evenings.  Ensuing summers  expanded to three nights a week. Centered around the basketball courts next to White Stadium, there is flag football, double dutch, kickball and other games. every Wed, Thurs, and Friday night from 5-8 pm. Free hot dogs, hamburgers and lemonade help draw in teens and local families. FPC has resurfaced and painted the two basketball courts - thanks to the Boston Parks Department for installing a second set of hoops this bring!

Photo: The Franklin Park Tennis Association brings volunteer teachers once a week to Sports Nights to give young people a chance to try out the sport. 

For a special public health project, Crew members did surveys in the park and surrounding neighborhoods to learn more about what keeps people from using the park . The survey included questions about health problems. We are working to make the connection between park use and healthy living.

During the school year we invite youth groups and schools into the park for exploration, learning and hands -on work saving the park's woodlands. If you're a teacher or youthworker, contact us to plan a visit with your students. A school year FPC Leadership Crew directs their peers in afterschool and weekend projects, delves more deeply into careers and environmental learning, and participates in community outreach.

photos: Squashbusters joins a spring clean-up (above); students learn to identify invasive plants (below).