The grassroots sports program is off to a slow start after only four people turned out to a public meeting in Penhold on April 19.
“There wasn't a very good turnout,” said Tara Wells, community services manager for the Town of Penhold.
The low turnout does not mean the possibility of having a grassroots sports program is dead, however.
“We had some great conversations with people,” she said of the interactions with the meeting. She and Derek Crichton, the facilities manager of the Penhold Regional Multiplex, encouraged those in attendance to go out and talk to their friends and neighbours to try and get them involved.
The idea behind a grassroots summer sports program is that community leaders would emerge to coach and help organize different sports for the youth of Penhold to participate in. Town staff could offer support but cannot run the program, with Wells saying it must be a community-driven effort.
“That's the key,” Wells said, adding they need passionate people to take the lead. She said the support town staff could provide would be facilities, meeting spaces, information and more.
“How can we help you to get that going?” Wells said.
For those who are looking for programming for the kids, Wells said “there are lots of other programs going on” by different organizations for the area. The information is available on the town's website, in the Penhold newsletter or Wells said people can contact her for more information.
Wells or Crichton can also be contacted regarding the grassroots sports programs if anyone is interested in taking on the organization of the project.
