Carson recreational trailer brings play, help to kids

Children living on Hot Springs Road and Northgate Lane have a new place to play and get help with their homework.

A group of business, city and volunteer leaders unveiled the Partnership Carson City Mobile Recreation trailer at the Victory Christian Center parking lot on Hot Springs Road on Wednesday afternoon.

The Boys & Girls Club of Western Nevada will bring the trailer to the parking lot on Hot Springs Road after school until 5 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays.

George Wendell, pastor of the church, told a crowd at the unveiling that the program will help improve the quality of life in the area.

"I've heard we're going to start out slow, but I believe it's going to blossom tremendously," he said.

Partnership Carson City gave $15,000 to start the program. The nonprofit, formerly the Community Council on Youth, focuses on a broad range of social services.

Kathy Bartosz, executive director of Partnership Carson City, handed out bright green T-shirts with her organization's name on it to children at the event. She stood beside the recreation trailer that had cartoon faces of children painted on it.

Several children played soccer in the parking lot during the ceremony. Partnership Carson City gave out cookies and bottles of water.

District Attorney Neil Rombardo, Sheriff Kenny Furlong, Chamber of Commerce Director Ronni Hannaman, Mayor Bob Crowell and City Supervisors Pete Livermore, Molly Walt and Robin Williamson were there to support the event.

Hal Hansen, Boys and Girls Club executive director, said in an interview at the ceremony some children aren't able to come to the club and some parents want to keep their children close to home.

"We bring the club to them instead of them coming to the club," he said.

The club wants to move the recreation trailer around to other parts of the city once the program at the church gets established, he said.

Students will be able to play soccer, basketball, other sports and get help with homework. Three Boys and Girls Club employees will be on site.

The idea was developed through the Gang Response Intervention Prevention and Suppression Committee, part of the district attorney's office and working in conjunction with the Quality of Life Committee and the Carson City Chamber of Commerce.

Bartosz said in an interview at the ceremony that the group already has raised almost enough money to continue the program next year.

- Contact reporter Dave Frank at dfrank@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.