During the school year, hundreds of youth walk through Colina Del Sol Park in East City Heights to five surrounding schools. STAR/PAL built its facility in this community park (which had historically been plagued with crime issues) in order to provide a safe haven as well as offer free after-school programming to neighborhood youth. All STAR/PAL Program Directors are law enforcement officers who make themselves available to work with youth center participants, who are between 9 and 14 years of age. In partnership with local universities, STAR/PAL facilitates having college students tutor these youth at the center, enabling them to better their academic performance while developing positive relationships with role models. Additional programs at the center focus on fitness/sports, developing effective communication skills, and crime prevention education. During school breaks, STAR/PAL's Youth Center provides a variety of field trips and activities which are designed to expose youth to new opportunities and educational experiences. For more information regarding the STAR/PAL Youth Center, please contact Aalke Heuvelman at aheuvelman@starpal.org or 619-533-5794.