Belle Haven: Signups drop in youth programs Belle Haven: Signups drop in youth programs (April 06, 2005)

By Rebecca Wallace

Almanac Staff Writer

A year after a controversial reshuffling of the city of Menlo Park's recreation and social services programs, enrollment has fallen in many programs in Belle Haven.

Sports teams such as pee-wee basketball, football and cheerleading are seeing declining numbers in the lower-income neighborhood, officials say. Football enrollment has dropped from 50 children to 20, and cheerleading is down from 27 to seven.

"The decline in attendance may be attributed to past participants' strong loyalty to their previous instructors/coaches or program fees that Belle Haven residents see as unaffordable," community services manager Bob Roessler wrote in a staff report.

In addition, the report states, new study programs at the computer lab at the Onetta Harris Community Center in Belle Haven are sparsely attended. New kids' dance, ceramics, martial arts and cooking classes are averaging five students.

Disturbed by the trend, Belle Haven resident Matt Henry told the Almanac that he fears more kids are hanging out on the streets.

"I see these kids walking around, when they used to be at that center involved in different activities," he said.

A planning commissioner and council watcher, Mr. Henry said he understands the city's financial straits. But, as he said at a council meeting in February, he's worried about the future of the Onetta Harris center.

"Poorer staffing leads to less attendance at programs, and less attendance is used as a justification to cut programs," he said.

Mired in the recession, the council last year approved several cuts and staffing changes in the community services division, including demoting one senior supervisor and cutting the hours of an Onetta Harris senior recreation leader and night clerk.

Aaron Johnson, a veteran senior supervisor at Onetta Harris, retained his position but was moved across town to the Burgess center, which many Belle Haven residents protested.

The City Council is set to discuss the report during a study session on Tuesday, April 5, which begins at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at 701 Laurel St.

No formal action can be taken at study sessions, but the council will likely be thinking ahead to next year's funding for community services.

Budget hearings for fiscal year 2005-06 will begin later this spring.
Boosting enrollment

City staff members have been working to boost enrollment at Onetta Harris, Mr. Roessler wrote. Athletic programs have been publicized in English and Spanish, in the city's activity guide and in fliers sent to schools and community groups, he wrote.

Because of the concern that program fees are too steep, city staff members are looking into changing some fees and creating a scholarship program, Mr. Roessler wrote. They also plan to start some new basketball and gymnastics programs at Onetta Harris this spring that had been held only at Burgess.

The report also heralds some good news. More community groups, such as Project Read, are meeting at Onetta Harris, Mr. Roessler wrote. And child-care enrollment is holding steady at 88 at the Belle Haven Child Development Center.

At the Menlo Park Senior Center, also in Belle Haven, city officials say a higher number of Latino residents are taking part in activities. This may be because the center now has a bilingual social services coordinator, who joined the center after the previous coordinator took early retirement, Mr. Roessler wrote.

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