Kids, and parents, had their way of making a point
NEWBURGH – One day after Pastor Rosey Andrews and students in her Northeast Gateway to Freedom program implored the Newburgh City Council to convince the Newburgh Land Bank board to allow them to continuing to use a vacant lot at 10 Chamber Street for outdoor recreation, a number of the students in the program marched in support of the play area.
Michelle Martinez, 11, said the lot provides her the only outdoor play time. “I can’t even play in front of my apartment building because a building fell down and they blocked the road and I can’t even play because there are a lot of people outside,” she said.
Joy Ann Stewart, 13, hopes they get the vacant lot back. “When I go home, there’s no one I can really play with and here I get to socialize with other people, other than myself,” she said.
Havon Rawlison, 13, said the play area has helped him immensely. “Before I came here was on the street getting all the violence and all that and the program brought me to a new life. It brought me to a life of God; it showed me to the way I should be going,” he said.
As for Pastor Andrews, she said the Land Bank board is tying her hands in her continuing effort to care for the children of Newburgh.
“We have 30 signed up for after school; it increases significantly in the summer, but they are shackling our ability to invite kids off the street now. Where am I going to put them?” Andrews asked.
Participants and the pastor are hopeful that the Land Bank reconsiders its decision.
