NEW ALBANY —
For Samantha Harvin the choice to come out on Saturday and enjoy Cross Creek Apartments’ first-ever Youth Day was an easy one.
“We live here,” she said, standing in the parking lot with 1-year-old Antonio Patilan at her side. The tot was taking in the aura as streams of soapy spheres flew off the Bubble Truck and speakers blared festival favorites like “Electric Boogie.”
“He loved the bounce house,” Harvin said. “It’s a good outcome.”
Nearby other residents played cornhole, kicked back and enjoyed a few of the tasty dishes that were coming off the grill.
The youth day was put together by the newly-created Cross Creek Youth Association.
“This has been an idea for a couple of years,” said association president Clarence Sloan, adding that the 90 or so kids that live in the complex need more to do.
Sloan lives near the entrance of the complex and he said he’s always seeing neighborhood children playing near Green Valley Road. Though the speed limit is 35 miles per hour there, many motorists come through the area at 55 mph or faster.
Association Vice President Julie Schwerer said recently a 3-year-old child was found sitting in the middle of the road. Fortunately an ambulance driver stopped and located an adult.
Moreover, Sloan said, the event was about setting a good example for the kids in the neighborhood.
“This is our future leaders out here,” Sloan said. Many of the children don’t have a lot of parental supervision.
Saturday’s event had a lot of support from local officials, including Floyd County Prosecutor Keith Henderson.
Henderson said he knew Sloan from his involvement with youth football and immediately liked the idea of a youth day for the children of the apartment complex.
“We’ve got to reach out and do what we can” in order to set a good example, Henderson said.
“The criminal justice system is not going to fix it,” he said. “The change has got to come at this level. There’s got to be a role model in these kids’ lives.”
One goal the association is already working on is a community garden, in which the area kids would be involved. The land has already been tilled and carrots, green beans, watermelon and tomatoes have been planted.
Ray Jay Johnson is one local youth who helped with the planting. He said he’d not gardened much before but wanted to get involved to help the neighborhood.
Schwerer said the garden will not only give kids something to do but also provide a little more nutrition for the residents.
The organization’s next goal is to raise money for playground equipment in the neighborhood.
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Related Photos
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Payton Carrol runs through bubbles at the Cross Creek Apartments' Youth Day on Saturday afternoon. Staff photo by C.E. Branham
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Antonio Patilan runs through bubbles Saturday afternoon at the Cross Creek Apartments' Youth Day in New Albany. Staff photo by C.E. Branham
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Dannyell Shirley and New Albany Police Department school resource officer Dan Dickey enjoy a game of cornhole at the Cross Creek Apartments' Youth Day. Staff photo by C.E. Branham
Discussion
Super happy, fun day: Apartment leaders host festival, hope to engage youth
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