Elementary students practice football and cheerleading Tuesday at Hazel Park High School as part of a program that is a collaboration between the city and Hazel Park Schools. (Hazel Park Schools photo)
A new program in Hazel Park is giving elementary school students a chance to take part in sports.
Students got started this week, practicing football and cheerleading on the Hazel Park High School’s athletic field.
City Manager Ed Klobucher said it’s part of a two-year effort by the city and school district teaming up to enhance recreational opportunities for young students and residents.
A number of elementary students are already taking part in the new Junior Vikings program. Hazel Park until now has lacked an organized youth sports program.
“Kids now have a chance to participate in youth sports,” Klobucher said. “With the Junior Vikings, we can create community loyalty and (sports experience) for them at a young age, so they are not starting at a comparative disadvantage when they play sports later on.”
Klobucher and Hazel Park Schools Superintendent Amy Kruppe said the city and the district are pooling their resources to have a greater impact.
The Junior Vikings program got off the ground with the city kicking in $15,000 and the school district putting up $10,000.
“Over 100 kids are involved in the football and cheerleading programs,” Kruppe said. “Normally, these kinds of programs are run by outside organizations for profit. We also know that kids who are active are better learners. Having these (recreational) opportunities for children makes Hazel Park that much more desirable as a city and school district, and a great place to live.”
Working together, the school district and city aim to expand youth sports into the future.
Efforts are underway to introduce T-ball, baseball and girls softball for elementary students.
“We want to make sure we have options for everyone,” Klobucher said. “Our city recreation department is also getting involved.”
There is an advantage to young students and the community in having such programs, he added.
Establishing those offerings is much easier when neither the school district nor the city has to carry the financial ball alone, Klobucher said.
“We both have parks and facilities we can share and use,” he said, “and it’s a better use of the taxpayers’ resources.”
The Junior Vikings program is sustainable, but it needs parents to volunteer and young children to sign up to succeed, Klobucher said.
The team effort between city and school leaders is also bringing a benefit to the wider community.
Kruppe said the pool at the high school was down for over a year until the district did a $2 million update to restore the facility. Now, the pool’s open for free use by all residents from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays.
“We’ve been getting from 30 to 40 people coming to use the pool,” she said. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the school’s” facility.”
The goal for next year is to offer swimming lessons there for the community, Klobucher said.
With a nationwide shortage of lifeguards and water-safety instructors, the school district is offering a high school credit class to learn about those jobs.
“Later, we can hire these kids to become the water-safety and swimming instructors of tomorrow,” Klobucher said.
Klobucher worked for the recreation department part-time in 1981, and has been city manager for over 20 years.
“This is the highest level of cooperation I’ve seen in all those years between the city and the school district,” Klobucher said.
A seven-member board of directors, including three parents along with city and school officials, is overseeing the new programming Hazel Park is undertaking with the school district.
