Grade 7 (House 2)
Presque Isle Middle School
Many people in Presque Isle realize that we need a new recreational center due to the current size issues with our center right now. A committee has already started making plans for our new community center. But some people ask, “Why do we need a new rec center anyway? Ours is fine.” A lot of people would disagree saying that our center is too small, and it facilitates more of a younger community of students. That is true. Our current center focuses more on the elementary age activities rather than being a full community center. I know that many kids at my school agree that we need a new center. The new community center would have activities for all ages to enjoy; from senior citizens to school-age children. Some of the things the new center should include are a gym that could hold more than one activity at once.
The gym would also be regulation size so that it would be possible to host basketball games for all age teams. One more important feature to the new gym would be bleachers on the sides of the gym. This would be much better than the situation now, because as many parents know, there is absolutely no space to sit down and watch your kids participate.
Another thing that should be included in the new community center would be a track surrounding the gym. This would be much like the track at UMPI in Gentile Hall where parents could go to walk or jog and be able to keep an eye on their children at the same time.
One of the other things the community center could include is a teen center. Here kids could do homework, watch television, play games, and just relax in a lounging area. Teens could go there and then walk down to the movie theatre, or even stay there after a basketball game if their parents are at work.
The new community center would also have a seniors’ center where senior citizens could play cards and make coffee in the kitchen that would be included in the area.
The committee is also hoping to have it tied in with the teen center so that the older people could help kids with their homework after school.
The last thing the new building would include is a multi-purpose room. This room could be used for a craft area or a meeting room to host meetings for businesses.
Finally the planning committee recommends locating the new center on Chapman Street at Riverside Park. This would be very convenient because the soccer field is right there, and the pool would be close as well. This way everything would be in close proximity.
I think it is a good idea to build a new center because now there is a need for more community participation. I also think it will bring Presque Isle together as the community.
I really hope we can pull through with the plans and make this big step for Presque Isle to grow as a city.
