Recipe For Decreased Juvenile Crime

Rural communities struggle with juvenile crime as theconditions combined with the vision of concerned
attrition of affluence due to the migration ofcitizens will change the lives of youth in Appanoose
knowledge workers to metropolitan areas continues.County Iowa for generations to come.
In a letter to the editor of The Daily Iowegian, RollieThe complex will offer a wide array of recreational
Reznicek, President of Appanoose All Play, Inc.opportunities not currently available and will further
credits the increase in the number of youthexpand already existing opportunities.
participating in organized recreation programs with aThe complex is strategically located to be adjacent
25% drop in juvenile crime. In 2000, when Reznicekto or have a connection with both Centerville
was Mayor of Centerville, Iowa (population 5,850), heCommunity School property and Appanoose County
created a City of Centerville Recreation DepartmentConservation property.
specifically to give youth something positive to do.Bill Burch stated, “The completion of this
When Rod Campbell, Director of the Recreationwonderful project will be a watershed
Department retired in 2010, more than 600 youthaccomplishment for the community. Our community
were participating in various recreational programsshares a debt of gratitude to the many substantial
and the juvenile crime rate had dropped by 25donors including Mr. Cline as well as Rollie Reznicek
percent. The story does not end there, according tohimself. Rollie has proven a stalwart visionary and
Reznicek, Appanoose County Youth will have eventireless volunteer whos efforts are making this
more opportunity to participate in sports, fun, andproject a reality.” Burch is Attorney in Fact and
fitness when the first phase of the Morgan E. Clinethe local representative for Morgan Cline.
Sports Complex opens in 2010.Appanoose County continues an upward trajectory
Morgan Cline embraced Reznicek’s vision ofas the number of quality businesses and recreational
providing a center specifically designed to meet theopportunities increases. Burch went on to say,
needs of youth and the Morgan E. Cline sports“Our community is garnering a great deal of
Complex was created. Rachel Hoffman, Vicepositive attention. This is primarily due to the
President of Commercial Resources Inc. and boardcontinued commitment to improvement by the local
member of Appanoose County All Play states “acommunity. History and those without vision wrote
generous donation from the Morgan E. Clinethe area off as dead long ago. Thanks to a handful
Foundation paved the way for making the Sportsof dedicated souls, we are the proverbial Phoenix
Complex a reality. Construction is set to begin springrising from the ashes. All indication is that people
2010. When completed, the Morgan E. Cline Sportshaven’t seen anything yet.”
Complex offer youth softball fields, soccer fields,Many in the area and at in the Iowa Legislature
outdoor volley ball court, fishing, boating, andagree. Something very good is happening in southern
camping.” The dedication of many communityIowa.
benefactors committed to improving the living