Pine Bluff Parks & Recreation hears numerous suggestions at Thursday’s listening session

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By Ray King

Suggestions for everything from chess in the parks to a place where people can ride horses to urban gardening were just a few of the ideas that came up when the Pine Bluff Parks and Recreation Department held a second “listening” session at the Convention Center Thursday night.

The event was hosted by Parks and Recreation Director Samuel Glover who, in his introduction said city representatives and parks department employees want to hear what residents want and need and see if those wants and needs align with the city’s goals and vision.

After the meeting, Glover was asked about some of the things people suggested.

Mayor Shirley Washington, who left for another commitment just after the session began, said the city’s goal is to see activities happening all around the calendar. She went on to say that by working together, we can make it better.

One of those speaking was Kesha Cobb, an urban gardener and talked about teaching kids to be farmers.

Collaboration with the Pine Bluff Community Center and the Boys and Girls Club was also discussed as Glover and the club director, Nyesha Aldridge. Glover said the two have been working on a proposal to make the community center a Boys and Girls Club site in order to improve services to children but the center would not be taken over by the Boys and Girls Club.

Before that discussion, Rebecca Newby, who currently works at the Boys and Girls Club spoke about her connection with it.

Third Ward Council Member Ivan Whitfield, who was one of six members of the council to attend the session and is the Chairman of the Public Works Committee, said his committee will meet Wednesday and then set a special meeting to discuss the collaboration effort.