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THOSE WHO AREN'T PICKED UP BY PAR- ENTS RIGHT AWAY HAVE THE OPPORTU- NITY TO PLAY PING PONS, VOLLEYBALL OR BASKETBALL. 4 6 * P& R M A R C H 1 9 9 4 ation centers, but also in two schools, Carl Hayden High School and Nevin School, during July and August. For the $20,100 in Supreme Court funds, 26,832 youths participated in late night teen sports, The Mobile Partnership Pro - grain (a recreation center on wheels), three teen councils, special events and sports tournaments. Summer School Recreation Program Enhancement Neighborhoods that have gang prob- lems got a bit of relief when two local schools were kept open for recreation programs. The $29,000 of the court grant enabled the department to extend summer recreation programs for addi- tional weeks at targeted elementary and middle schools. Approximately 4,403 youths ages 6 to 14 participated in the activities. "It brought the department together for more cohesive services," said Di- rector Colley. "For such a large depart- ment our recreation services can some- times be fragmented. We were able to pilot some new programs such as the Juvenile Curfew Counseling, new teen councils in north Phoenix, and the Mid- night Madness program which kept gymnasiums opened until midnight for basketball games and other structured recreation programs. It made the streets of Phoenix safer by giving them some constructive program alterna- tives," says Colley. Local police statistics seem to agree with that view. The Phoenix Police De- partment reported consistent citywide reductions in the number of police calls during the months t e extended .pro- grams were operating. Comparative cnme statistics]7om police precincts July and August of 1991, 1992 and 1993, show a reduction in crime calls by as much as 52 percent in areas with ex- panded recreation programming (northeast, central east and northwest) during 1991 and 1993. Looking at statistics for 1993, it seems that juvenile crime was on the rise again, but we deterred kids from delin- quency with the Juvenile Curfew Pro- gram. The juvenile Curfew Program, a year-round joint program of the Phoenix Police and Parks, Rc _ 2atiol and Library departments, require youths age 15 and younger be off thl streets by 10 p.m.; those ages 16 and Y by midnight. Teens and children foun( in violation of the curfew are taken t( one of the four recreation sites arounc the city. As much as 60 percent of thr police calls in two areas of Phoenix wer, for curfew violations. While many c these kids are off the streets, they ar: not committing crimes. After a youth is picked up, he or sh, is taken to a recreation center which is staffed by recreation staff and police o1 ficers. Each youth goes through a K minute police processing that include notifying the parent or guardian, corn piling a criminal history and detecting signs of substance abuse or health prof: lems. Most kids are picked up at th, center by parents within 90 minute Any youth not picked up by a parer within six hours is turned over to juvc nile court. Staff members act as buffer wee. youths and authority figures- ane pc lice officers. Those who aren't picke up by parents right away have the of portunity to play ping pong, volleyba or basketball," says Walker Knox, recrc ation coordinator, who oversees the pr( gram at the Desert West Multigener: tional Center. Most may not be in th mood to play games, but they do hav the chance to talk with recreation sta who understand their plights. Some the part-time recreation staff had bee out on the streets and involved in gang at earlier ages. Thanks to the Arizor. Supreme Court grant, the curfew viol: tors are offered the services of a coul selor. Many of the kids do accept th help. The cooperation and collaboratic between different governmental agei cies has helped Phoenix, and parks an recreation professionals must be a pa: of it. Observes Jim Colley, "The chE. lenge to the parks and recreation pr fession is to take the initiative uttir together similar programs to combat j- venile crime and delinquency. While v are not the only solution, parks ar. recreation is a very valuable part of tl- chain." ■