By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
Mayoral candidate Howard Hall, in his first appearance before Dowagiac City Council Monday night, suggested the recreation program be revived.
Hall said when the city surveyed constituents via utility bills, receiving 205 responses by March 1, "The number-one response was that the people want more activities for kids in the area. I think that's very important. Some of the people here didn't agree" because Dowagiac offers a skatepark and PAL (Police Athletic League) Club.
Hall said the charter makes provision for parks and recreation offerings to be "maintained in the same manner consistent with the needs of the community. Now, in the survey that you sent out, the number-one response was more activities for kids and I really believe that that is not meeting the needs of the community. You've got a parks and recreation board and it hasn't met in over 10 years. It clearly states right here that you will offer a program. If you've got a program, and the board hasn't met in over 10 years, how can you be consistent with your city charter?"
Hall asked city officials to take the recreation program "out of mothballs."
Benton Harbor, where Hall grew up, offers "a good example," he said. "You graduate from high school, go to college and move away from your hometown. If you don't graduate, you have a tendency to stay in your hometown … They don't need to be hanging out in front of the businesses. Let's start now and get some programs for these kids. Get them active. Maybe we can encourage them to graduate from high school and eventually the problem will take care of itself. We've got plenty of time before school's out."