Feltonville: Recreation Center Provides Activities to Youth

Ed Henninger watches the kids from the window of his office in the Feltonville Recreation Center. He has been the director at the center for 20 years and tries his best to help the kids growing up in Feltonville.

“I think our society gives up on kids too easily,” Henninger said.

The Feltonville Recreation Center has numerous programs to keep the kids active. There are after school programs, computer classes, day camps, basketball tournament, flag football games, baseball games, softball games and swimming opportunities.

Luckily its resources have not been cut too much in the current economy. The center has been designated a teen center so they were not cut as traumatically as other parks.

“We’re very lucky to gain the extra resources,” Henninger said.

Still there department has suffered 7 percent cuts a year for the past four years.

The recreation center was even luckier to receive a donation from Shire Pharmaceuticals last year. The $165,000 donation went to buying the center new playground equipment for the park outside.

The playground before had been covered with graffiti and burn marks from people lighting the equipment with lighter fluid. The equipment was metal and often too dangerous to play on.

Although the new equipment does have some graffiti, it is in much better shape than before. The bright yellows and purples appeal to the children, while the handball court and freshly paved basketball courts attract teenagers.

“This place looked deserted before, but now there’s life back here,” said Leon McCain, a frequent visitor.

Rebecca Hale and Patrick McCloskey, Group 22, Feltonville