City officials to use Volney Rogers Junior High School pupils' demographic work as guide

YOUNGSTOWN -- Work done by a group of junior high school pupils on the demographics of 30 city parks will be used as a guide for future planning by both city council and the Youngstown park department.
The seventh- and eighth-grade history class of Volney Rogers Junior High School did the work as a class project under the direction of teacher Penny Wells and Holly Burnett-Hanley, a research associate with the Center for Urban and Regional Studies at Youngstown State University.
The work included a review of the Youngstown 2010 development plan, conducting surveys of schoolchildren and parents, compiling data based on the information they obtained and making recommendations on park development and use.
The pupils made presentations of their final package to Mayor Jay Williams, the city park department and the YSU Center for Urban Studies.
Their efforts will be recognized by the city Park and Recreation Commission, city council and YSU in a ceremony in city council chambers at 9:30 a.m. Monday. Council will present the class with a resolution of appreciation, and refreshments will be served.