No recession here

Marisa O’Neil

Imagine having recess all day long -- except for breaks to play board

games, do crafts, take a field trip or eat lunch.

Costa Mesa students taking part in the city’s Summer Playground

Program at the Balearic Community Center get all the fun and games

they want each weekday for free. The drop-in program runs all summer

from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and usually entertains about 40 to 50

children, ages 5 to 12, each day, recreation leader Ervin Mendez

said.

“We try to get kids outdoors,” Mendez said. “Nowadays, they’re at

home so much, watching TV or playing video games. It’s good to get

them out of the house and exercising.”

Monday morning, about two dozen children played an energetic game

of kickball with recreation leaders and student volunteers. When

Mendez stepped up to the plate, 6-year-old Tyler Chacon did his best

to stare him down, menacingly tossing the playground ball a few times

as he chose his pitch.

Tyler carefully let the ball roll, and Mendez sent it hurtling

high above the fielders’ heads, scoring three runs.

“They always miss the high balls,” 10-year-old Bobby Alford

observed as he waited his turn to kick.

On the nearby basketball court, the Higaredas -- 10-year-old

Brannon, 7-year-old Nicholas and 6-year-old Curtis -- were playing a

hybrid game of their own. The three boys played with a football,

running up and down the court, passing and shooting baskets.

“We’re playing basketball with a football,” Brannon explained.

Many of the students come to the program with their siblings or

cousins, Mendez said. Often, they come all five days of the week to

do crafts, play board games, sing songs and play outdoor games like

kickball, dodge ball and one called “chaos.”

“Chaos! More chaos!” 8-year-old Mark Villasenor said when asked

about his favorite game. “They put seven balls in the middle of the

field, and there’s trash cans on the field. You have to put the balls

inside to get a goal. It’s hard to explain.”

The programs, also at Rea Elementary School and at Wakeham Park,

include field trips for a fee -- this week, students will go to an

Angels game. They also get some guest speakers and a few lessons on

character and safety thrown in.

“I’m glad I don’t have to stay home and do nothing,” 8-year-old

Kyle Whiteside said. “We get to do real fun activities here.”