NORWICH – Despite budget cuts almost every year since 2002, the City of Norwich Youth Bureau’s Winter Recreation Programs for 2007 may see their busiest year ever.

With 302 children currently involved in Youth Bureau programs and more registrations due in from the three programs remaining in operation, “2007 is on track to surpass our busiest year,” said Youth Bureau Director Bob Mason.

This year’s winter activities included soccer, junior wrestling, gymnastics, baseball, softball and bowling  – which was nearly cut from the 2007 program. Because of budget cuts, the bowling program was nearly disbanded. To keep the program going, Mark Ewen, the manager of Plaza Lanes, entered into a partnership with the Youth Bureau, allowing the youth group to play for free, and Mason volunteered his time to coach the program, also working free of charge. “We’ve managed to keep running without eliminating programs,” Mason said.

This year, the Youth Bureau saw increases in the number of participants in all of their programs. “Wrestling and gymnastics were our best programs, as far as attendance, but they all picked up in numbers,” Mason said. Many of the programs offered by the Youth Bureau wouldn’t be available to the children if they weren’t offered by the city. “Gymnastics was cut from the school a few years ago,” Mason said as an example. This year 108 children participated in the program offered by the Youth Bureau.