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Growth of Weed and Seed gains favor in Childs Park
By JON WILSON, Times Staff Writer ST. PETERSBURG -- The people who came to watch the Childs Park Junior Rattlers' youth football practice Wednesday night outnumbered those attending a nearby meeting about the possible expansion of a federally funded drug-fighting program into the neighborhood. About 40 people gathered at the Childs Park Recreation Center to hear discussion about Weed and Seed's application to start work in the neighborhood. Among the speakers was William Daniels, a community resource specialist for the U.S. Attorney in Tampa. Under federal rules, Weed and Seed is required to expand its effort after nearly five years in the city. The program currently focuses on a large section of the city's Midtown. Childs Park, where residents are battling crime and housing problems, is west of 34th Street S and virtually next door to the current Weed and Seed area. While surprised by the small turnout, Weed and Seed coordinator Janis Ford said the expansion was on track. "We've gotten the okay from the neighborhood association. There are more people who want it there. No resident said they didn't want it in Childs Park," Ford said. About 4,000 fliers went out to advertise the meeting, Ford said. Chimurenga Waller, the president of the International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement, held a media conference outside the recreation center 15 minutes before the meeting's scheduled start. Waller favors economic development over the Weed and Seed programs. If the Childs Park expansion happens, the neighborhood would get about 75 percent of Weed and Seed's annual $225,000 for social services projects. Neighborhood president Armanda Lampley has said she was optimistic that some increased law enforcement would result. Ultimately, the expansion into Childs Park must be approved at the federal level. If Weed and Seed's expansion plans were not approved, it wouldn't mean the program was dead in the water, Ford said. "I think we could continue on in our area. We'd just have to find other funding sources," Ford said.
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From the Times South Pinellas desks Jeff Webb Letters |
