To the editor:

As a working mom of a kindergartner at Bresnahan Elementary, I know firsthand how badly Newburyport families need more options for after-school care.

The truth is, the current system isn't working. Too many parents are cobbling together care – or going without – and too many kids are left without a safe, engaging place to be after school. Our family has personally been on the after-school care waitlist for over a year, with no end in sight.

My husband and I both work full time. And like most working families today, we can't just rely on grandparents or a nanny. While we are fortunate to work from home most of the time, it's impossible to juggle caregiving and work without relying on TV or the iPad for entertainment – not the ideal for an enriching after-school experience. This is even harder for parents who work out of the house and single parents who are doing it all on their own.

That's why I'm voting yes for the new recreation center and gym – and I hope you will, too.

Beyond expanding after-school care, the recreation center is a much-needed third space for in-person connection. Our society is becoming increasingly isolated. Kids are spending more and more time online and in front of screens. This is our chance to give them a better option: a place to gather, play, build friendships, and just be kids in a safe, supportive environment.

When we vote yes, we're not just saying yes to a much-needed building – we're saying yes to our families, our community and our future. We're saying yes to a stronger Newburyport.

Please join me in voting yes on May 13.

ALY FERGUSON

Newburyport