What is there for our children?

Someone wanted the topic so here it is. What is there for our children to do in Tarkio or even surrounding towns if you have ideas please chim in?

nothing thats the trouble people need to get something done for the kids

I agree boo hoo, we do need to get something started for the kids, but everytime something does come around there is not enough support for it to stay.
I suggest that we turn one of the many vacant lots in Tarkio into a skate board park, that would be a wise use of one of the lots that Tarkio Renewal has. We also need to get the tennis courts back in shape.

food for thought wrote:

I agree boo hoo, we do need to get something started for the kids, but everytime something does come around there is not enough support for it to stay.
I suggest that we turn one of the many vacant lots in Tarkio into a skate board park, that would be a wise use of one of the lots that Tarkio Renewal has. We also need to get the tennis courts back in shape.

Yes!! I completely agree with you 100%!!

The things we do have for the kids the pool, basketball court, parks ect get vandalized and torn up but the kids. Doubt the would treat a skatepark any better. And only a very same group of kids would use a skate park. They are also very expensive to build and insure. While I agree they kids need something, I dont think a skate park is the answer.

Tarkio mom wrote:

The things we do have for the kids the pool, basketball court, parks ect get vandalized and torn up but the kids. Doubt the would treat a skatepark any better. And only a very same group of kids would use a skate park. They are also very expensive to build and insure. While I agree they kids need something, I dont think a skate park is the answer.

So what do you think should be done for the children? And the pool? All property owners in Tarkio pay taxes on that pool, most of us pay big taxes on it and most of the time it's broke down, they used some of the old walls in the pool. So I don't believe it's all new for the price it cost.Besides that is only in the summer. A skateboard park could be used alot longer than the pool.

I don't know what the answer is. Kids like a place to hang out, listen to music and spend time with there friends. Maybe a place that had music, video games, food, and regular dances( maybe a live band from time to time). A safe environment for them to socialize in. Most all kids are into friends, food and music. It could be used year round. Very few kids Tarkio are into skating.
A skate park would be used by far less kids than the pool, which does require upkeep. It isnt always broken down. And taxes do pay for the pool, its upkeep, insurance ect. Taxes would also have to pay for all those things for a skate park. You wont find anyone who will provide property to have a skate park on it. The insurance and liability are to high. They also cost alot to build and upkeep. If someting is to be done it should be done for the majority of the kids not a few.

They could do it on donations. This town has always stepped up and donated time and $ to get things done. It's about safety, kids are skating in the roads and it needs to be stopped before one gets run over.

Tarkio gets grants for other things, like tearing down houses, fixing our public streets, the ones that don't need fixed that is. Maybe the parents of Tarkio children should all get together and see about a grant or something to get a few things into this town. Also maybe it could be found out about the insurance for a skateboard park, I agree with Cannon that some child is going to get hurt every bad or even killed on the street with the skateboard, I don't want to see that happen.Donations is a great idea Cannon! Let's face it people fly up and down the streets of Tarkio like they are on a freeway.

As far as the vandalism goes, have you ever been driving the streets of Tarkio after 10pm, not a cop to be found. I agree with the donations and or grants, Tarkio gets grants for everything but what the city really needs. The other issues with the pool etc, if your going to pay that kind of money for something you better make sure you have enough money to maintain it. The basketball courts need better lighting system and the tennis court needs a complete overhaul--again you fix it you maintain it.

Tarkio is a joke.Look at the money that was given or a grant that was given for the Walnut Inn.Used up the money and what a joke.The owners could have done something to that building,but wasted money that someone else could have used and made work.The tennis court and basketball courts could be fixed up,but why,when our town allows kids to have hoops out in the street just waiting for accidents to happen.Four wheelers are against the law but drive every where and even stop and talk to our cops.Skateboards ARE on the highways and main street,there needs to be a place for our kids.Not everyone can AFFORD to have their kids in sports,so whats a safe thing for our kids???

Tarkio has a swimming pool? All I see is a $900,000.00 money pit! They talked it up when we had to vote for or against it; they didnt tell people they were using the same one. We could have had a beautiful pool to be proud of for that much money, someone from this town was paid off on that deal! NEVER again will I vote for ANYTHING in this town again!!

How many times have local people opened a business with the younger population in mind and it was hip for a while but soon faded.

How in the world do you think our children would be able to afford to hang out in a place that had games and live music from time to time? Remember what happened when Becky Campbell opened that place up across from Pamida? It went broke not a year after it opened! No one can afford to give their children money to blow night after night, just so they can socialize with their friends!
While I agree that the pool is a huge P.O.S. money pit that we were suckered into voting for..and I also agree that someone lined their pockets on that deal..I do not agree about the tennis courts and basketball court. IF it were maintained and had adequate lighting I am sure the kids would play ball there more often than they do now. As it is now a few kids go there but not many because of the state it is in. It is pretty sad when a basketball hoop on the edge of the street is safer and more appealing than the sad sorry worn out courts we have available to them. While we need something for our children to do, I for one would cringe at the thought of something that will "charge" my child everytime he goes..I get enough of that from the crap hole pool all summer! I vote skate park! Whatever it is we can not begin to believe that "grants" will cover all costs associated with our children seeking entertainment and if we choose to open some type of inside venue with live music etc. for our children, then we will need to be prepared to pay everytime the kids go..and if not, we need to be prepared to rent the building out when it closes its doors in less than a year like the last place!

you know back when i was growing up we didnt have anything to do so we hung out on main with our friends not causing trouble now days you dont see but maybe 20 people on main at one time so no matter what you do the kids of today wont get that involved they dont want anything to do and if they do they'll just go vandalize something or steal someones stuff thats what they do for fun and our police staff just sits at home eating there donuts so instead of complaining take your kids out and do something with them now matter what everything in life cost now days!!!!!!!!!!

While I agree back in the day I too hung out downtown with friends without causing any trouble, but there were people that did back then just as well as they do now. Also your point of as kids today don't want anything to do and they will just go steal someone's stuff. Well there are plenty of adults doing the same thing. Doesn't make it right, but it's true. People automatically accuse the kids. I'm not saying some don't do it, but the majority of kids are not trying to cause trouble. Not too long ago people were grumping cause they were hanging out down at the bank. Well, I can remember the bottom of main street being packed amongst other places around Tarkio, and we never caused problems. Alot of kids can't afford to do alot of things these days, so they go downtown to be around their friends. Doesn't mean they are out looking for trouble. I know plenty of adults that cause way more trouble around here then the kids. As far as the police goes. Maybe they should look into others besides just kids. It's pretty obvious what goes on and they get away with it. Just one more thing. If one of the policemen would spend more time paying attention to what's going on, then talking on his cellphone, then just maybe he could make a difference, but I don't see that happening anytime soon.

On the cell phone comment, there are a couple of them that could lose the cell phone and might get something done.
I also grew up in Tarkio and remember sitting at the bank, in the lot where Pamida now sits, and the bottom of main street. I remember when party bridge was still there and yes some kids drank, but their were quite a few of us that did not. We drove the ones drinking around. Back when I was a teen, we didn't have to find things to do, we always had something to do.
As far as taking our kids out and doing something with them, who wants to take off every weekend and drive somewhere so that their children could be entertained.
My point by this thread was to get ideas of what you would like to see happen inside Tarkio for our children not to be told to get out and take them somewhere or to do something with them.
On the money question, parents may not want to give them the money to go to a dance or arcade, but what about the money that the parent's invest in the gas tank, insurance, and fancy cars. I remember as a teen, yes my first, second, and third car were given to me, but I paid my own insurance, and by golly if I got money for gas it was 5 bucks and that was supposed to last me all weekend which I made sure it did and it usually got me to and from school the next week as well. I understand that gas is far more expensive these days and that 5 dollers might get you 2 gallons, but I was just stating that money shouldn't be an issue when the kiddos are using that amount of money just by "cruising"

I must say that I was never given a vehicle nor did my siblings. We had to work for what we had, and yea gas was ALOT cheaper back then. I can remember cruising all night on a couple of bucks. I don't see a problem with cruising myself. That's what kids in Tarkio have been doing for years. I feel if my son has his bills paid and has a few extra bucks to eat out with a friend or cruise for a bit then why not.
I do think kids and adults would use the tennis courts again far more then people think. I know our family would. It's also something you can do with your whole family that doesn't cost you anything, except taxes every year which we pay anyways. I also loved my skateboard when i was growing up, so I don't see nothing wrong with finding a safe place for kids to do that either. It's too bad Tarkio didn't have a theatre or skating rink. I know kids love going to the movies and skating rinks. My sons and I will go down and shoot hoops to pass time alot, but it's so bad now it's not even worth trying to play there.
I really wish they wish they would do something with the park up by the swimming pool. Although I'm closer to the other one, I see all kinds of things done to that one to keep it nice, but noone seems to care about the one up by the pool. I had great childhood memories in that park. We do have the rodeo and swimming pool right there,so you'd think they would want to keep that one upgraded just as much for the little kids and adults to enjoy it. There are many things that can be done, if some people would just listen.

I agree with you. I was not meaning to sound like I disagree with cruising, I do not and have many fond memories of my time on main. I was just using it as an example because everyone wants to speak of how much it would cost to give money for them to go to a dance or a rec room. I love being with my kids and would love to be able to take them places every weekend to do something, but it is just not feasible by any means. I would like to see something for my children in their hometown so that maybe they can have some of the same memories that I have while growing up. The memories is one of the reasons my husband and I both came back to Tarkio to raise our family. This is home whether or not I agree with some of the things that take place in town. I always find the little reasons to remind myself why I am proud to say I am from Tarkio.

Opps some how the beginning of my post starting in the name. Please forgive me.