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Park Sessions How and why did this program get started? In April of 2001, The District 7 Park Planning Committee, a group of community members and park advocates organized by the Neighborhood Parks Council (NPC), asked the question, "Why are teens misusing RecPark Property?" To answer this question, they investigated Teen Programming in their district. Their preliminary research revealed that there is almost no teen recreation service in their area, especially for older teens. What exists is geared primarily to "teens" between 10 and 14 years of age. Consequently, few older teens participate in RecPark programming. The results of the 2001 Citizens' Survey also showed that only 3% of those surveyed aged 13 to 18 use RecPark facilities. Perhaps a better indicator of the lack of recreation services for youth is the results of Youth VOTE 2001: of the 4500 high school students polled, 60.3% said there are not enough safe recreation options or places to go in their neighborhoods. In fact, a large number of teens with access to transportation go to Oakland or Berkeley in the evenings to hang out in a venue that is open to their age group. So Park Sessions evolvoed as a model for addressing the lack of positive recreation options for San Francisco's youth. NPC went straight to the youth and asked them "What do you want to see happen in this Rec. Center?" This simple solicitation garnered the ideas, energy, and commitment of the youth that led to the event's success. Who is involved? Park Sessions is a group of young artists, organizers, environmentalists, and community activists dedicated to developing creative opportunities for youth. It was conceived and organized by the Neighborhood Parks Council and the District 7 Park Planning Committee. What goes on as part of this program? The first Park Sessions program occurred on November 30, 2001. Over 400 youth enjoyed themselves in a positive and peer-run environment. The event ran from 9pm 2:00am and featured an Open Mic with bands, poets, dance performances, a puppet Show, a DJ, and two youth MC¹s. In a Visual Art Area, seven local youth showed their work, which was curated by two of their peers. There was a skate park with a variety of ramps, rails, jumps and fun boxes; and tables were set up by local non-profits and businesses including Southern Exposure (local non-profit art gallery), With It Girl (a women's Skate company), and Freestyle Clothing (youth-run business). Finally, there was free food for all attendees, including nachos, taquitos, pizza, cookies, donuts and soda. Security was comprised of 25 volunteer chaperones and 12 youth coordinators, all of whom were trained and supervised by Tahmal Flemming of the Excelsior Boys and Girls Club. The event also had a coat and bag check operated by volunteers. Park Sessions got numerous types of sponsorship and support for the event, including cash, and donations and discounts on everything from food and materials for the skate park, to furniture, sound and lighting equipment, and a solar-power generator. Park Sessions youth have also hosted two
mini-events before and after the "main" event: a graffiti
mural event at which local teens painted boards to be the backdrop
for the main event; and later, a video night at which Park Sessions
youth showed videos made by their peers and local youth performed
poetry (attended by around 40 How has the program changed the community - and the participating teens?
The Open Mic performances were coordinated by local youth Jesse and Gus. They secured impressive local talent and MC¹d the entire performance. The sound and light equipment was set up by local youth Josh and Marcello; Josh coordinated local youth to operate the soundboard the entire evening. The artist gallery was curated by local youth Sophia and Emily, who solicited local artists, and secured beautiful works of art for display. On the day of the event, they created the visual art display area. The Skate area was established and supervised by Jymi Shores of SF Skatepark Coalition. He coordinated young skaters to help with the transportation and set-up of the ramps for the indoor skatepark. Throughout the planning process, the youth engaged in problem solving about many of the issues RecPark is confronted with when planning events for young adults. We not only discussed outreach and event planning, we also raised the issues of graffiti, vandalism, and youth safety. Through brainstorming about these concerns, the youth approached the issues from all perspectives and created successful solutions. The youth also grew to understand and respect all that the department has to consider when catering to older teens. The youth treated the park with respect in part because their peers coordinated the event. The youth organizers prevented vandalism through their own initiative; on the evening of the event, they taped up butcher paper on a wall outside at the end of the evening the paper was covered in tags and the building was clean. Park Sessions not only creates strong advocates for the RecPark, it also gives young people a chance to grow and develop as leaders. By presenting the youth an empty slate and asking them what they want to see at the Rec center, Park Sessions has created the opportunity for young visionaries to create the environment they dream of for their community.
Contact information Amber Rosenberg
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