Boulder City Council rejects proposal to close Youth, Art centers

Boulder City Youth Center Coordinator Debbie Barth plays foosball with with resident Sam Newman, 27, at the center at ABC Park on Thursday.

By Tiffany Gibson

Friday, Feb. 26, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.

Boulder City Youth Center

The Boulder City Council decided Wednesday to not close the Youth Center at ABC Park after hearing feedback from teens and families who utilize the facility.

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The Boulder City Youth Center is a safe haven for teens and a place where drug, alcohol and tobacco use are forbidden.

It’s a place that provides homework assistance and guidance. And up until Wednesday, it was one of two Parks and Recreation facilities that faced being shut down.

At Wednesday’s Boulder City Council budget meeting, City Manager Vicki Mayes recommended the closure of the Youth and Art centers at ABC Park to help balance the city’s budget.

But after hearing from families and teens who use the Youth Center, the council voted to keep the facilities open.

Mayes said the Youth Center has about 45 teens enrolled and the Art Center provides services to about 12 to 25 people. The Youth Center’s annual operating budget is $75,000 and the Art Center’s is $50,000, she said.

Last year, the council enacted an annual $20 fee for each Youth Center participant to help the center become more financially self-sufficient.

Youth Center Coordinator Debbie Barth, who has been working at the center since it opened in 1997, said the fee caused enrollment to drop by 35 percent.

When Barth heard about the possibility of losing the center, she said, she was devastated.

“I was really upset because I care about these kids,” Barth said. “I put my blood, sweat and tears into it.”

She said she recently received a letter from a Boulder City High School student and active participant at the center thanking the center for saving the lives of so many teens.

“She basically said, ‘I would be on drugs and alcohol if I didn’t have a place to go after school,’” Barth said.

Resident Sam Newman, 27, a former Youth Center participant, said the center helped him socialize with his peers in a sober environment.

At the budget meeting, Newman advised the council to keep the center open, saying its closure could lead to more vandalism, drug use and gang violence. He said it could also affect students’ academics and lead to an increase in high school dropouts.

“I’ve seen the impact before and after,” Newman said. “I was born in Boulder City. I remember being a little kid when there was nothing to do. Peer pressure is a huge thing.”

Newman said he would like to sit down with City Council members to discuss the center’s financial problems and come up with a solution.

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By scrapiron6330

Feb. 26, 2010

7:08 a.m.

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I think it is funny that they would consider this and not the golf course.
By cpo

Feb. 26, 2010

8:45 a.m.

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I certainly hope this doesn't result in cut backs to the bronze statue program, or the golf course. maybe they should reconsider
By dodgerchuck

Feb. 26, 2010

8:46 a.m.

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i love the golf course and go out there both of my days off every week.i hope they never close it.the staff there is fantastic,and the facility is the best in the county.long live boulder creek.
By Batman (Pat Man)

Feb. 26, 2010

12:29 p.m.

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Some things are more important for the community than the $75,000 it costs to run and I think this is one of them. If u want a nice community u can't put a cost on that but think of the value and what it adds.
By BCDave

Feb. 27, 2010

1:06 a.m.

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If someone can come up with 125K to keep the Boulder Dam Hotel open, they certainly can pony up a few bucks to keep a few kids off the street. This town has a lot of money. The Credit Union has more money in accounts that you could ever imagine. Go ahead Boulder City people mail another check to help some country battle aids in Africa, but ignore your own community. You collect for fireworks every year by putting collection jars out, do the same for these kids. Maybe you'll get more kids attending. And Vicki, take your head out of your rear end. You're starting to sound like the two other rocket technicians on council.
By sunnybnny

Feb. 27, 2010

5:02 a.m.

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Hmmmm., probably could cut Vicki's salary instead and do more for the budget than cutting valuable youth programs.
By STARBEAMS

March 2, 2010

8:39 a.m.

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Looks as though the Center is clean, sunny and a happy environment for kids to play and learn. Most youth centers are not so and those attending sometimes aren't the most sunny of kids either.
By jaunsanchez (Jaun Sanchez)

March 2, 2010

7:20 p.m.

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Come on even trash like BCDAVE wants it opened,