Many believe the days of kids getting together in their neighborhood to play a game of baseball, basketball, football, or any other sport, are becoming a thing of the past. However, the YMCA would like to see that change with a new sports equipment borrowing program. The YMCA SportPort program is now being offered by the recreation departments in both Port Huron and Marysville. The YMCA is using vans to offer pop-up sports locations at schools and parks. They will be coming to a community near you with a van full of sports equipment hoping to get kids outdoors to play.
Geof Kusch, chairman of the YMCA board, feels that “barely half of all children are participating in sports even once a year. The era of the sandlot or unstructured play, of kids making up games and playing with friends in the neighborhood, is largely gone.” In Port Huron, gear is available from the McMorran Place Pro Shop, and in Marysville equipment can be borrowed at the Marysville Community Center on Huron. The SportPort program is funded through the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan.
