05/15/98

Young Readers Speak Out

In response to Calling All Kids (5/8/98)

Citizens want vibrant Main Streets again where their basic needs for goods, food and entertainment can be met close to home rather than in a neighboring town. They also long for more personal, friendly neighborhoods where people know each other and socialize together. Consider these comments from young readers:

• I'm an almost 13-year-old girl who recently moved to Connecticut from Mt. Kisco, New York, where there was no one to play with in my neighborhood. Throughout my childhood, my only companions were my best friend (who moved when we were 9) and my younger brother and sister. We lived in small, lonely condos that were basically for couples starting a family.

  For the first month in CT, I hated our new town. I refused to say much and when my mom asked me how school was, my reply would be, "It was awful." It wasn't until three months later during spring vacation that I really opened up to the neighborhood. Now practically every day I venture out on my bike and wave at everyone I see. I have yet to experience summer here, but I know it will be more fun than I've ever had! I wouldn't change anything about this new neighborhood, except make the streets wider for better kickball games. Brookfield is a cool town with many stores. The only thing I would add are sidewalks. I was sure every organized town had sidewalks, but I guess I was wrong. -- Enjoy your CT Town

• I have some suggestions on how to make Main Street better. Part of the sidewalk should be reserved for bikers because it is dangerous to ride out in the road on a busy street. Maybe the mayor could have a yellow line painted to designate where bikers should ride. If bikers were caught on the pedestrian side, then they would get in trouble. Also there should be a basketball court made in the park to keep kids busy and out of trouble. -- Create Bike Lanes Downtown

• Our town should have more interesting things for visitors from different states and countries to see, like museums, parks and shopping malls. -- Attract Visitors

• First, kids are always looking for a place to hang out. A Youth Center would decrease the amount of loitering done after school, at the movies and at the mall. Second, if you bring in a wide variety of clothing stores for men, women and children, people would come downtown shopping more often. Third, my town needs a movie theater so we don't have to drive to another town to see a movie. Last, the town should open a warehouse store like Sams Club or Edwards, to save people money and travel time. -- Open a Youth Center

• I think my neighborhood would be better if people talked to each other more. I live in an apartment building with lots of other apartments in it. There should be more things to do here. Kids just hang around and pick on each other. I wish the parents and kids would become friends. We all live so close to each other and I don't know even half the people around here! -- Meet Your Neighbors

• I am 13-years-old and live in Manchester. It's an okay town, but I think it could be improved if the state would build a skateboard park here. It would keep kids off the streets, and kids wouldn't get hurt as much skateboarding. Right now they have to ride on sidewalks and streets and that's dangerous. Also, kids get arrested a lot for trespassing because the only place they can ride are on their driveways. A skateboard park in any town would help a lot. It's fun and gives kids exercise. -- Build a Skateboard Park

• At my middle school in New London we are having a project for the whole town. It is called "Design New London's Waterfront Day." My teacher is going to give all our designs to the mayor; if they're good enough, she says, he might just build all of them! On my map I built an arena, a huge recreation center, a restaurant, a cinema, a designer clothes outlet and a couple boutiques for hair, nails and tanning. I love my town, and soon it won't be boring anymore! -- Build a New Waterfront

Please send questions or comments to bbruno@snet.net.