Belle Haven: Demographics could be fueling big drop in youth participation Belle Haven: Demographics could be fueling big drop in youth participation (April 13, 2005)

** But others blame higher fees, staff reorganization.

By Rebecca Wallace

Almanac Staff Writer

With attendance dropping in many city youth activities, Menlo Park officials have pointed the finger at a recent staff reorganization or questioned whether program fees are too high.

But there are larger forces at work. A sweeping demographic change in the Belle Haven neighborhood may also be a major factor, officials say.

In the past, Belle Haven's population was largely African-American. But in recent years, the area has become predominantly Latino. And young Latinos in Belle Haven "are not participating much" in city recreation activities at the Onetta Harris Community Center there, senior supervisor Aaron Johnson told the City Council on April 5.

Recreation staff are still trying to find out why. One reason could be that there is not a strong Latino role model on the staff, senior supervisor Michael Taylor said at the meeting.

According to census data, Belle Haven is about 73 percent Hispanic and 16 percent African-American, Mr. Taylor said after the meeting. In his opinion, the city's community services division should more actively recruit Latino staff, and encourage local Latino parents to get involved as coaches or other kinds of volunteers.

"We haven't kept up with the times," he said.

At the meeting, the council and staff also discussed trying to attract a Latino resident to serve on the Parks and Recreation Commission.

Next door to the Onetta Harris center, the Menlo Park Senior Center has had success by hiring a social services coordinator who speaks English and Spanish. Now more Latinos are taking part in activities, Mr. Taylor said.
Lost faith in the city?

But Onetta Harris is still seeing a disturbing decline in youth participation. According to a staff report, enrollment in pee-wee basketball, football and cheerleading teams is dwindling. Numbers are also low in computer study programs and dance, ceramics, martial arts and cooking classes.

Larry Pettis, who grew up in Belle Haven, told the council that he had visited Onetta Harris many times recently and had been saddened by the shrinking sizes of youth athletic teams.

"The gym is nonexistent," he said. "Nobody's there any more."

Mr. Pettis said the numbers are down not because of demographics but because Onetta Harris youth have lost a major mentor: Aaron Johnson, who was moved across town to the Burgess Recreation Center last year as part of a reorganization of the community services division.

Another senior supervisor was demoted to cut costs, leaving just two: Mr. Johnson and Mr. Taylor. Mr. Johnson now oversees all recreation activities for the city rather than just being in charge of Onetta Harris, while Mr. Taylor heads the other department division, social services/child care.

Mr. Johnson made no secret of the fact that he didn't want to move, and many in the community supported him. He told the council April 5 that residents had lost faith in the city because they had turned out en masse to oppose his move and felt they weren't heard.

His role would be difficult to fill at Onetta Harris, he said: "I spent nearly a quarter-century there. I understood people and got close to them."

Mr. Johnson did not return phone calls from the Almanac for further comment.
What's next

Regardless of why attendance has dropped, action needs to be taken, officials agreed at the meeting.

Staff members are looking into the fee structure for Onetta Harris activities and may establish a scholarship program, officials said. Spanish-language activity fliers are also being widely disseminated.

Curtis Brown, director of the community services division, said his staff will do a thorough outreach effort to get residents' feedback on boosting participation. He said he would return to the council in six to eight months with a progress report.

But that wasn't soon enough for the council, who asked staff to come back in July with a plan of action to address the declining participation.

"I'm uncomfortable deferring this," Councilwoman Kelly Fergusson said. "This is a pretty serious problem."

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