Chester City Administrator Malik Whitaker came to the Chester County School Board March meeting with a greeting, some good news and a plea from Mayor Carlos Williams.
Whitaker began his remarks by reporting the city has just completed the Outdoor Fitness Court at the Aquatics and Fitness Center. The City partnered with the National Fitness Campaign to develop the second Outdoor Fitness Center in the state, he said.
The Court is open to the public and free for use, he said.
He then read a statement from Mayor Carlos Williams: “Dear Chester County School District Board members, Chairman Shannon, Dr. Sutton and (Deputy Superintendent) Mr. Massey, I extend my gratitude to address you today on a matter of utmost importance: the health, wellness and safety of the children of Chester County … it is with sincere appreciation that I acknowledge the valuable work done by each of you in guiding our educational system.
“In Chester County, we are faced with a critical need for recreational facilities to support our youth outside of school hours. Currently, the City of Chester Aquatics and Fitness Center stands as a beacon of hope, offering a range of activities aimed at enriching the lives of our children.
“It is evident that financial support is essential to sustain and expand these vital services. I implore the school board to consider allocating financial resources to assist the City of Chester with operational costs of the facility.
“Specifically, the City aims to provide free memberships to every child up through the 12th grade, insuring equitable access to recreational opportunities for all.
“The Aquatics and Fitness Center not only caters to youth activities such as football, basketball, cheerleading, karate, boxing, dance, pickleball and tutoring services, but also serves as a hub for inter-generational engagement, benefiting both our elderly population and our youth.
“It is heartening to note that our state delegation has demonstrated their support for the infrastructure of the building with a substantial funding already secured for essential projects, such as our roof. (“We received a legislative grant for $500,000 for a Phase I roof improvement,” Whitaker remarked.)”
“However, to fully realize the potential of our facility and to insure its sustainability, additional financial assistance is indispensable.
“Therefore I humbly request that the school board consider entering into an agreement with the City of Chester, contributing $200,000 towards the enhancement and maintenance of recreational activities for children county-wide.
“Your support will not only transform this facility into a state-of-the-art hub, but also leave a lasting impact on the well-being of our communities,” Williams said in the statement.
Whitaker commented, “that is the plea: recreation is important. I want to highlight the City of Chester’s investment. For example the pools: we have the Wylie Park Pool (I will be presenting City Council our proposal tonight about what we are doing to bring back the outdoor pool; for our indoor pool, we’ve invested $300,000 in an HVAC system. These pools serve all of Chester County,”” he said.
Whitaker added the City was making investments to repair the tennis courts at Wylie Park as well as investments at the Aquatics and Fitness Center.
