In an effort to better understand the needs of all her constituents, Holbrook Mayor Kathleen Smith took part in an important meeting requested by some of Holbrook’s youngest residents last week. Rylie Patterson, London Gardner and Kenzie Baker, each 12-year-olds heading into the seventh grade met with Smith at Studio 66 to discuss important community issues over delicious treats served at the shop.
The meeting came about after Rylie sent a letter to Smith outlining some of the concerns she has as a life-long resident of the community. In the letter, Rylie noted, “Holbrook is a wonderful place to grow up, but there is a lot of little things that isn’t wonderful around town. Here are a few things that I see, like all the empty buildings with broken windows or boarded up windows, also all the empty lots around town.” Rylie goes on to note the lack of opportunities for the youth in the community, including communal spaces, athletics, arts and more, and suggested some changes.
Mayor Smith told the girls that she agreed with their concerns. “I think it’s important that we realize as adults that when talk about the empty buildings and concerns, that you’re paying attention and that it matters to you too.”
All of the girls have lived in the community their entire lives and love the City of Holbrook and want to see some improvements for the youth that live there. “I think this is important to give kids a place to come together so that they don’t get into things like drugs and doing bad things,” explained Rylie.
Smith asked the girls what are some of the things they would like to see in the city that would improve the lives of the youth. London replied that she felt a roller skating rink would be a great way to not only get everyone together but to also have some exercise. “It would be nice to have it indoors so that it can be used year-round,” she said, adding that if it was indoors, it could be monitored to avoid vandalism and graffiti, a problem she noticed that occurs at the outdoor skate board park at Hunt Park.
Kenzie remembers when the community had a bowling alley with an arcade and a pool table and would like to see that come back. “I think it would be great to have a place where kids could come together and hang out and play old-fashioned arcade games, where you pay for the games but not pay to be there.”
Other ideas included a zip-line or a water park. Each of the girls said a park with a pond would be great where there could be ducks to feed, kayaking, outdoor activities, music and walking paths. Also mentioned was a rock climbing wall and pickle ball courts. Smith agreed and noted that she had just been speaking with Councilmember Karina Pack about the need for more designated walking trails in the community.
Smith asked if the girls had heard of the recreation centers that are common in larger communities where there are dance and art classes, crafting and other after-school activities and asked if they would utilize something like that, with the girls nodding that they would. The girls said they’d love to see art classes offered in the community and even foreign language classes, and other self-improvement classes.
Smith asked what the girls thought about the existing amenities, such as the pool and parks. London noted how, as part of the swim team, the water needs to be brought up to temperature. “The pool just needs to be warmer, it’s extremely cold first thing in the morning.”
Rylie and London noted that the Little League fields could also use some improvements, mentioning that the pitcher’s mounds on both fields are broken and there’s a lot of rocks on the infield, that are not only uncomfortable if you are standing behind the plate crouched as a catcher, but can be dangerous to those running the bases.
When asked by Mayor Smith what they pictured downtown Holbrook looking like with improvements, London responded, “There’s that whole part past the train (tracks) with nothing over there. My mom showed me an old restaurant that use to be there and I think it would be cool if those buildings could just be repaired a little bit, but keep it rustic. Rylie added, “I feel like there could be a really cool clothing store that looked antique but still had this generation fashion but looked 90’s. I like an 80’s and 90’s aesthetic.”
Regarding the downtown area Rylie also said, “That’s where I picture an arcade, right by the gas station where you could go in and get food because those buildings are conjoined right there,” said Rylie.
Smith asked if there were more spaces like that downtown, would walking around downtown from shop-to-shop appeal to the girls, to which they all replied with an exuberant “yes!”.
But these young ladies didn’t just come to the table with ideas, they see the problems and offered some solutions. “When I drive around with my mom I see all the old damaged buildings. I started counting the abandoned buildings as we drove one day and counted over 20 just on the main street. I think those owners should have to clean them up and make repairs, or sell them,” said Rylie.
When asked, each of the girls said they had plans after graduating school with London wanting to become a local physician or a choir teacher like her dad. Rylie is looking to become a veterinarian and Kenzie a lawyer. Each of the girls said they hoped to be able to remain in Holbrook with their careers.
The girls stated that they believe an improved appearance and more amenities would mean more fun for everyone, not just the kids, with Rylie adding that more amenities would not just benefit the residents but the businesses who cater to tourism. Regarding the tourists she said, “They might come through here and would think, this is not very good but if we have this stuff maybe it would change their minds and they would stay a little while before they hit the road. This would get more business for the hotels. The town would get a lot more money,” said Rylie, adding, “I’ve been thinking about this for a while.”
Mayor Smith appreciated the opportunity to visit with the girls and will be taking their ideas and suggestions to the council to see what steps can be taken to improve the city’s offerings for the young people in the community.
