Youngstown youth programming expanding

As young families and the number of children grow in the Village of Youngstown, so, too, are opportunities for these youth.

Thanks to the efforts of the Youngstown Recreation Department and Friends of Youngstown, programming is expanding this summer.

Sport sampling & coach development program

Youngstown has received a grant supported by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Fund held at the Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo. Sports offered include baseball, street hockey and basketball. Registration will open soon with, available dates in late-July and early- to mid-August.

Recreation Department Director Jeff Gruarin said youth can participate in three days per sport: disc golf, baseball and hockey, all at Veterans Park.

“The kids will sign up for each class or one class. They'll come in and do introduction to the sport, learn about the sport, and then that will, hopefully, the last day, lead to games and more involvement with the coaches,” he said. “It’s pretty much for the basics of sports. Not to say somebody can't come in who plays it, but it's more of an introduction and to learn something different.”

Volunteer and board member Shana DiCamillo explained, “It's geared towards grades two through seven.

“I hear a lot of people talk about how youth sports used to be easier to try different things and not have to sign up, like commit to a whole league or a travel team or whatever. So, it gives kids the opportunity to try different things without necessarily committing to a whole season.

“And then the coaches who are participating will be mentoring young adults who are interested in coaching. So, we're trying to recruit juniors/seniors in high school or college-age kids who want to get some experience in coaching to come – sort of like an internship – and put them in contact with these experienced coaches so that they have somebody they can bounce questions off of. And then, as part of the program, and the grant, they're going to be able to access SafeSport – it’s a certification for coaches.”

Sensory Space Toddler Time with the Village of Youngstown Recreation Department.

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Sensory Space expansion and youth athletics for children with disabilities

Youngstown also received funding supported by the Peter & Elizabeth Tower Foundation. This grant is for a two-year period, and allows the Sensory Space to expand by offering music therapy and yoga for children.

The program will also provide basketball in the fall of 2025 and 2026, and disc golf during spring/summer '26 and '27 – both for 10-12-year-olds with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

“Kids come in who might have developmental disabilities, and they have a safe space where they can explore and play, and that's in partnership with Niagara County,” DiCamillo said.

With these grant programs in place, “There's growth happening. It's really exciting, and there's a lot of energy behind it,” DiCamillo said. “We're encouraging people to get involved and share their feedback, as well as their dollars.”

Gruarin said, “I don't want people to think Youngstown’s just like kind of going through the motions. We're trying different things, and we always post surveys on the village website, because I like to know what people actually want, versus just doing something and not knowing. I do listen to people when they do tell me.

“The goal is to get kids back into recreation in a way – not away from sports like Shana mentioned earlier, like travel sports and that. I just think, if you don't do travel sports these days, you don't get to do much. So, my goal is to bring kids back to just doing recreation things for fun and trying it. If they don't like it, they know; but there's no loss if they don't like it.”

Fundraiser at Griffon

To further support programs, play areas and Safe Spaces in Youngstown, a fundraiser will be held at Griffon Brewing, 200 Lockport St.

“This is the second year the Friends of Youngstown is organizing the celebrity bartending fundraiser, which we've been doing in coordination with the Griffon in Youngstown,” DiCamillo said. “Last year was a big success. We had a lot of people come out. We raised over $7,000.”

The event will run from 5-9 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, and feature the Nancy Price Memorial Lager.

“We have tickets available online or at the door,” DiCamillo said. “People can come support their favorite celebrity bartending team and vote with their tip money.”

Summer Recreation Department programs are online at https://youngstownnewyork.us/departments/recreation/disc-golf/summer-recreation-program/ and on Facebook. Stay up to date by following Friends of Youngstown on Facebook.