Parents wanted to start up area Optimist Club

``We have a park,'' said Lucy Valdez, a City Council member who takes her sons to the YMCA in neighboring Hialeah to play sports. ``Now we need some type of organized sports.''

Valdez and former Hialeah Gardens mayor Greg Read are heading efforts to begin a club in the city.

``We need at least 25 people to join,'' Valdez said.

Parents who are members will receive a 25 percent discount on each child who signs up for the athletic programs.

Along with a baseball team, the club hopes to establish an academic program in September.

The next club meeting is at 7:30 p.m. May 22 at Sir Pizza, 7900 NW 103rd St. For more information, call Read at 237-1114 any time.

-- MARIA CAMACHO