New McLane area library is a plus
My students at McLane High School read The Bee article (Jan. 9) about the new Betty Rodriguez Regional Library across the street from the school and responded to a question about what else could be done to improve the neighborhood or community.
The greatest number of students wrote that more stores were needed for shopping and job opportunities. This was followed closely by the desire for a neighborhood park or playground for the younger children. Many students felt that a stronger police or security presence was needed, and cleaning up the neighborhood was also high on the list.
Several students expressed the need for a gym, a Boys and Girls Club, or other places specifically designed for teens. Toward the bottom of the list were suggestions for a nearby Starbucks or Jamba Juice and a few students miss having a local bowling alley.
Most of my students are excited to see the new library, and we are planning to visit soon. The new library is a positive step and will be a tremendous resource for the neighborhood, but there remains much more that could be done to revive this critical area of our city.
Richard Meland, Fresno
This story was originally published January 20, 2016 at 7:46 AM with the headline "New McLane area library is a plus."