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Takoma Park youth council outlines projects, asks council to consider extended park hours
Summary
The youth council reported on projects including a toy drive for 400 kids, a multifamily compost pilot, nonprofit interviews to air on City TV, and a youth town hall with 80+ students. A youth subcommittee requested the council consider extending park hours; staff and council discussed feasibility and lighting for safety.
Christine Heidebrecht, advisor to Takoma Park's youth council, presented the group's annual report, describing activities and outcomes from the year: supporting the police and fire toy drive (increasing service to 400 children), partnering on a multifamily food-waste pilot, conducting in-depth interviews with 11 local nonprofits (to air on City TV), hosting a youth town hall with more than 80 Montgomery Blair High School students, and planning (but not holding) a World Cup–style soccer tournament due to insurance and space constraints.
Heidebrecht described a youth subcommittee's request that the council consider extending park hours in select locations (one proposal was to keep a few parks open until 9 p.m. in winter) and reported that the youth council had spoken with public works about lighting and other constraints. Council members praised the youth council's work, urged follow-up on lighting and feasibility, and asked staff to help the youth council with next steps and recruitment/retention of members.
The mayor and several council members emphasized the educational value of youth participation and encouraged the council and staff to work with the youth council on specific next steps for park hours and related safety considerations.
