By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
A long-time coach of the city’s young people has urged the Del Rio City Council to upgrade and improve the only indoor gym the city owns.
De Rioan Raul Castañeda made his remarks during the citizen comments portion of the council’s Feb. 14 meeting.
“This is my first time attending a (council) meeting, and the reason I am here is to let you all know about the Joe Ramos building where the Boys and Girls Club basketball games are played. That building needs to be fixed. The outside light fixtures have been broken for years, and games have been played there from 6 to 9 o’clock. Look what time it is right now (about 6:45 p.m.), and look how dark it is, so when the people come out, it’s as dark as it is right now, if not darker,” Castañeda told the council.
He said the inside of the gym needs work as well.
“There are holes in the walls inside the gym, and the roof leaks. For being the only gymnasium owned by the city, I just don’t understand why it can’t be maintained properly. As much as they charge to reserve the gym for practices and games, this should have more than enough funds to upkeep and maintain the only gymnasium the city of Del Rio owns and runs,” he said.
“I have been coaching our kids for more than 25 years, and I enjoy it, but I think our kids here in town are getting the short end of the stick . . . It looks like you do have funds, and I think they should be used for our youth,” Castañeda said.
“The floor of the gym needs to be changed to a wood floor because the plastic floor, the kids can’t even bounce the ball properly. I think we as a community should have more pride in our facilities in general, because as it is, our kids are limited in activities and recreation in this town,” he added.
Castañeda urged council members to investigate problems at the gym for themselves.
“So, I ask to please find out what’s going on. I know other people have been talking about it. That building’s been there for many years, and it’s still the same. Like I said, I’ve been coaching 25-years plus, and kids that I’ve coached are now parents themselves, and it’s the same. We only have one gym,” he said.
Castañeda said if council members were unaware of the problems at the gym, he would be more than happy to take them on a tour of the facility.
“I think our kids deserve better. Please consider the building,” Castañeda finished as City Secretary Mari Acosta announced Castañeda’s time to speak had elapsed.
—
Contact the author at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
NEWS — Coach asks city to improve Joe Ramos Center
By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
A long-time coach of the city’s young people has urged the Del Rio City Council to upgrade and improve the only indoor gym the city owns.
De Rioan Raul Castañeda made his remarks during the citizen comments portion of the council’s Feb. 14 meeting.
“This is my first time attending a (council) meeting, and the reason I am here is to let you all know about the Joe Ramos building where the Boys and Girls Club basketball games are played. That building needs to be fixed. The outside light fixtures have been broken for years, and games have been played there from 6 to 9 o’clock. Look what time it is right now (about 6:45 p.m.), and look how dark it is, so when the people come out, it’s as dark as it is right now, if not darker,” Castañeda told the council.
He said the inside of the gym needs work as well.
“There are holes in the walls inside the gym, and the roof leaks. For being the only gymnasium owned by the city, I just don’t understand why it can’t be maintained properly. As much as they charge to reserve the gym for practices and games, this should have more than enough funds to upkeep and maintain the only gymnasium the city of Del Rio owns and runs,” he said.
“I have been coaching our kids for more than 25 years, and I enjoy it, but I think our kids here in town are getting the short end of the stick . . . It looks like you do have funds, and I think they should be used for our youth,” Castañeda said.
“The floor of the gym needs to be changed to a wood floor because the plastic floor, the kids can’t even bounce the ball properly. I think we as a community should have more pride in our facilities in general, because as it is, our kids are limited in activities and recreation in this town,” he added.
Castañeda urged council members to investigate problems at the gym for themselves.
“So, I ask to please find out what’s going on. I know other people have been talking about it. That building’s been there for many years, and it’s still the same. Like I said, I’ve been coaching 25-years plus, and kids that I’ve coached are now parents themselves, and it’s the same. We only have one gym,” he said.
Castañeda said if council members were unaware of the problems at the gym, he would be more than happy to take them on a tour of the facility.
“I think our kids deserve better. Please consider the building,” Castañeda finished as City Secretary Mari Acosta announced Castañeda’s time to speak had elapsed.
—
Contact the author at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
Brian
Leave a Reply
Recent Posts
NEWS — City hosts meet-and-greet for new city manager
Read More »NEWS — THIRD ARREST REGARDING SEXUAL CRIMES AGAINST A CHILD
Read More »NEWS — Council majority favors no increase in city tax rate
Read More »