The Harris Youth Foundation Park: Kansas City, Mo - Brief Article

Parks & Recreation, August, 2003

In Kansas City, what used to be generic urban turf has become a training ground for the leaders of tomorrow. Established in 2000, the Harris Youth Foundation Park remains the only inner-city outdoors activities park in Kansas City that provides training and supervision. Each day, more than 100 youths take part in the park's various supervised outdoor league activities as well as its educational and job-skill-development clinics.

The park is named after its founder; Chris Harris, who was born and raised on the same block that the park now occupies. Harris created his eponymous foundation to use sports as a means of helping at-risk youths to develop life skills, self-esteem and respect for others. Through partnerships with local hospitals and area businesses, the foundation has provided such outdoor venues as a black-top basketball court with six backboards and a five-hole miniature golf course. The foundation is certified with the National Tennis Association and is in the process of adding tennis courts and batting cages. Degreed professionals teach the basic skills for each activity. Immediately afterward, participants engage in an educational or life-skills class.

For more information about the Harris Youth Foundation, write to harrisfoundation@ juno.com.