The power of playgrounds
Dear Editor: The recent WPIAL championship won by Uniontown High School should make a lot of people proud, beginning with parents and filtering all the way down to city officials.
While most schools that win big championships consist of a player who has been recruited from here or there, we can boast that the young men who brought home our championship are kids who we, as parents, friends, and loved ones, and, yes, even city officials, have watched grow up in the neighborhoods and on the playgrounds right here in Uniontown.
These kids were bonding with one another long before we ever bogged them down with rules and regulations regarding the game of basketball. Actually they used to make up their own rules and had a lot of fun doing it.
I had the distinct pleasure of watching many young people, including Terence Vaughns, Dierre Jenkins, Carl Farrell, Christian Jacobs, Mark Kampert, Todd Jackson, Reese Hodge, R. J. Sargent and Junior Mays, to name just a few, play basketball in a little young basketball league on the playground. The kids were fantastic young people who interacted well with one another because Uniontown’s playgrounds offered the opportunity in a positive environment for them to learn to do that.
Make no mistake about it. Playgrounds are not as popular as they once were. However, adults need to make an honest effort to foster the same environment for our young folk who are coming along, be it by way of trying to revitalize our neighborhood playgrounds, or by trying to get a community center in place as soon as possible. If the effort is not made our communities will see the difference and not just in sports.
We have a very proud tradition here in this little town and most all players who win basketball championships will take you back to the playground. All of our children may not be able to afford the YMCA, but as a community we have to offer an alternative to those who otherwise may not have the opportunity to learn those interacting skills. For years and years that alternative has been the playground, and nothing has changed. It is still an alternative. Just ride by Grant Street on a decent day.
Hard work, commitment, a great coach and the support of an outstanding community were the catalysts for this great team effort, which netted a WPIAL championship.
Nothing will change. The next generation will need the same thing.
Dana E. Dillard
Uniontown
Red Raider fan proud of team
Dear Editor:
As an avid reader of the Herald-Standard online edition and a proud graduate of Uniontown High School class of 1950, I was so proud of all the accomplishments of the Red Raider basketball team this year.
I constantly e-mailed updates on their season to both family and friends spread all over this country.
Still having family and deep roots in the Uniontown area, despite the passing of many years and various moves, I just was beside myself with pride for this team, and what they did for your area this past season.
Perhaps things did not work out the way they should have in Hershey, but those guys are still champs to this old transplanted Red Raider. I got so excited about this season; I am working on getting one of those great t-shirts everyone wore in support.
Dick Steele
North Myrtle Beach, S.C.