A Boston youth group has launched an ambitious program to expand violence-free zones throughout the city, one day after shootings outside a community center killed a man and seriously wounded two others, the Boston Globe reports. The initiative is an expansion of a program started last year that aims to make parks peaceful settings, offering sports and mentoring to city youth. The idea is to fill parks with families and children and keep criminals away.
The Violence-Free Zone Initiative, which has the city’s support, will recruit college and high school students, a staff of seven, and 650 participants to take part in an all-day basketball program. Violence-free zone logos would let people know neighbors are watching the areas closely. The community center shooting at 3:25 a.m. Sunday has rattled children and parents who use the center.