Pulling for a play space

They rivaled 4-foot-high weeds and the threat of being eaten alive by bugs.

Now they’re tackling the real dirty work: taking on a local politician.

It’s all in the name of community space — in this case, a small potential play area for a neighborhood’s small citizens.

At least six children took matters into their own hands when they took to an abandoned lot at Front and Sigel streets earlier this month with hopes of transforming it into their own domain.

"We want to make it our own little place," said Patrick Aukett, 10.

He and his pals, ages 6 to 13, tediously pulled weeds from the vacant land parcel with the guidance and support of a few adult neighbors.

"I love these kids," said Bill Myers, who lives next door to the lot. "You’ve got to give them something that belongs to them, something they can call their own."

A house used to occupy the spot until a couple of decades ago, when a fire burned it to the ground.

Myers said he has tried to beautify the empty space, but that certain neighbors have opposed his efforts.

"[The lot] sat there for like 15 years, and nobody did anything with it except me," he said. "When I did do something, the neighbors didn’t like it. They came over and gave me a hard time."

Myers had constructed a miniature farmhouse there, equipped with live chickens and roosters. He said he even started growing corn on the property.

But neighbors didn’t appreciate the "noise pollution" emanating from the farmhouse, said Myers, and he had it removed.

The neighborhood children now have bigger plans for the lot, as they are collecting signatures for a petition being sent to state Rep. William Keller (D-184th).

So far, the pint-sized crusaders have gathered more than 70 signatures for the petition to pave the lot for a basketball court.

"All they are asking for is someone to level off the lot and put a little blacktop over it," said Myers, 65.

Marrissa Beck, a 10-year-old from the 100 block of Sigel, said the renovated lot would add more excitement to the neighborhood.

In addition to shooting hoops, the kids said they would like to have a clubhouse on the lot. It would be used for a number of purposes, including "doing homework" and, more simply, "hanging out," Beck said.

The determined youngsters did have some help in launching their mission. Myers originated the petition with the support of his grown-up neighbors.

"[The lot] would not just be for one or two kids," he explained. "It would be for the entire neighborhood."

Myers noted that, as the youths frequently play in the street, an established play area would reduce their risk of getting hit by a car.

Aukett’s parents, of the 100 block of Dudley Street, said they like the idea of having their child playing closer to home. Plus, they maintained, it’s the least the city could do to reward the youths for their cleanup efforts.

"The children have put a lot of hours into it," said Jim Aukett, Patrick’s father.

When reached last week, Keller said he had no plans to install a basketball court on the lot because such construction might involve a liability.

However, he added, his office has worked with local cement masons for similar jobs in the city, and the apprentices who usually accomplish these tasks start in October.

Once a design has been agreed upon and a date has been set, Keller said the neighbors could see the lot paved sometime after next month.

Meanwhile, residents of the 100 block of Sigel have differing opinions on the lot’s reuse.

Marie Einck, for one, said she has no problem with having the children play only a few yards from her house.

Other neighbors expressed concern about additional noise on the otherwise "older" block.

"I don’t care, as long as [the children] don’t scream and holler and bring over other kids from the neighborhood," said one resident, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "We have enough of our own kids here."

But Myers said the neighborhood children are "good kids" who deserve their own space so they can continue to stay out of trouble.

"A lot of people in this neighborhood don’t understand that these kids are the future," he said.