Black Youth Football Practices In Tarkington Park
The Afternoons with Amos PODCAST For Wednesday, September 9, 2015. (Interview On The Tarkington Park Controversy Role Of Recreation For Black Youth Starts At 46:57 Mark On PODCAST Media Player). Seventy years ago, Tarkington Park, on the city block bounded by 39th, 40th, Meridian and Illinois Streets was created to serve the Butler-Tarkington neighborhoods and surrounding neighborhoods. For those years, especially as the neighborhood transitioned to a majority-African-American neighborhood, the park became not just a gathering spot for the neighborhood residents, but a relatively safe place, in neighborhoods troubled by crime. Several years ago, a movement began to change the character of the park from a “neighborhood” to “destination” park. A park that would encourage people from farther away to visit the park and patronize area businesses. But while residents knew there would be additions to the park, they felt that the park would continue to allow neighborhood youth to use it for activities ranging from tennis, to basketball, football, soccer, softball and more. For over a decade, several youth football teams have used Tarkington Park as a location for their practices.
(L-R) Coaches Damon Lee, Corey Harden and Ronnell Atkins
One of those teams, named after the Pittsburgh Steelers, is comprised of kids from the surrounding Black neighborhoods. Their coaches include neighborhood residents and homeowners. Suddenly, after being ignored by Indy Park officials for years, the young men and their coaches were displaced from their practice field, with no advance warning, by a chain fence signalling the start of the Tarkington Park renovations. Renovations that been delayed for months. Worse, the coaches and players and their parents and supporters have been told by Indy Park officials that the renovated park won’t have room for teams like them to use as a practice field. That has sparked a firestorm of controversy over what is the role of this critical park in helping provide positive activities for young Black boys. Activities that, in one of Indy’s six major crime “hot spots”, could be a place to help turn young Black lives around.
(L-R) Coaches Donnell Hamilton and Darryl Smith
Coaches from the “Steelers” appeared on Afternoons with Amos to tell their side of the controversy. Damon Lee, Corey Harden, Ronnell Atkins, Donnell Hamilton and Darryl Smith talked about their efforts, how they got started and their lack of interactions with Indy Parks and neighborhood officials. The coaches said that in all their years practicing in the park, never had they been approached by Indy Parks officials. They were never told about having to “register” as a youth group with the City or with Indy Parks. The coaches said several times they are not opposed to a renovated Tarkington Park. But they are concerned that the changes proposed for the park seem to be specifically eliminating the types of activities that appeal to Black youth, especially those between 8 and 15, in favor of activities that appeal to few residents of the surrounding neighborhoods. Listeners were uniformly supportive of the Coaches and their efforts out of their own pockets to help work with Black youth. During the interview, a caller identifying himself as Michael McKillip, head of the neighborhood unbrella advocacy group Midtown Indy tried to berate the coaches saying the neighborhood signed off on the program. Amos reminded McKillip that the areas his organization serves are strongly African-American and that his organization and the Butler-Tarkington Neighborhood Association has never approached the city’s Black media to help get the word out about the Tarkington Park renovations or ascertain the community’s recreational wishes.
Unite For Change Against Violence Vigil At 30th & MLK
(Interview With Unite For Change Leader Pastor John Girton Starts At 29:35 Mark On Media Player). In Day 6 of his Unite For Change vigil against violence at 30th and Dr. King Street, Pastor John Girton, Pastor of Christ Missionary Baptist Church talked about his time living on the street and the conversations he’s had with young people and neighborhood residents.
Pastor John Girton At The Vigil Site
He said apropos of the Tarkington Park controversy, Pastor Girton said that young people who’ve come up to him during the anti-violence vigil have told him besides the jobs, the most pressing need is to have “something to do” “activities they can participate in”. Girton says that organized, supervised activities are critical. Something that doesn’t exist in the Riverside/UNWA neighborhood. Girton said that Mayor Greg Ballard had yet to visit the site, though some of the Mayor candidate have and are planning to visit. Girton started his 30 day vigil against violence on September 4th and it will continue until October 4th. Asked it had been hard on his family, Girton said admitted it has been at times, but he’s been able to stop by his home, visit with his children and family who understand the importance of the ministry an he’s undertaken. (Interview Starts At 13:15 Mark On Media Player). Thomas Griffin, President of the Indianapolis Chapter of Indiana Black Expo and Rev. Timothy Taylor, Pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church appeared on the program to talk about a September 17th event at the eastside church to encourage parents to learn more about their school choice options. (Interview Starts At 4:10 Mark On Media Player). Terry Morris and Vicki Bland appeared to talk about a weekend conference at Mt. Zion Apostolic Church on the eastside. A conference designed not just for church and lay leaders, but for families, even children. The Afternoons with Amos PODCAST For Wednesday, September 9, 2015 Runs 92 Minutes. ©2015 WTLC/Radio One. PODCAST Starts After Brief Video Ad.
