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Almost a year after they began to focus on revitalizing their neighborhood park, Teen Neighborhood Leaders, Slavic Village Development's youth organizing program in Cleveland, OH, reached victory with their first big organizing campaign $250,000 being poured into renovating the park with group's design.

Although the organizing began on shaky ground with their City Councilman Jackson, TNL members made it a priority to build a strong, working relationship with him. They knew it was vital to build this relationship in order to have a loud voice in the planning process and they determined they weren't going to give up despite their frustrating start with him.

Due to this relationship, the Councilman became an equal player on the Project Design Team and met monthly. This team, initiated and facilitated by TNL members, is also made up of area stakeholders (i.e. neighbors of the park, child care providers who use the park, City of Cleveland Recreational Center employee, artists, and many more). This inter-generational committee is the first one in the Slavic Village-Broadway community.

TNL knew to reach far with their dreams, in fact, Jackson encouraged them to do so. For over eight months, the Project Design Team has been meeting with a landscape architect hired by TNL to put all of their ideas down on paper into a design created by youth.

They based their plan on how the park is used. No detail was too small. For example, they sought basketball courts and playground equipment for younger kids to eliminate the fight with older kids for equal time.

They then took this design out into the community and surveyed to make sure it fit the needs of all children, teens, and adults who utilize this community space. The committee voted on the final design and then the pressure was on.

Three TNL members went to City Hall to present their final design and the cost estimate of $237,000 to Jackson. They went over the entire design and emphasized the improvements that have already occurred in their community. More youth and families feel safer playing at the park and the park is cleaner because more people take care of it while they are playing. Jackson listened intently to their presentation and responded with the words that TNL has been waiting to hear. He responded by committing $250,000 to renovate Barkwill Park with TNL's design.

Construction could begin by early fall, but Trishia Vene, 16, isn't ready to claim victory. "We think of this as a long-term project," she said.

TNL has not only made a commitment to improving Barkwill Park but now they have begun to work on other parks in the community. "We've learned a lot from this project and we need to share this with other teens so they can do the same thing," exclaimed TNL member Lance Vene.