Letter: Learning to see leisure as a right and a responsibility

As a college student studying community development and public service, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what makes a city feel like it belongs to everyone. A recent article in The Salt Lake Tribune caught my eye, about a Utah author creating board books that feature ballet, hip hop, and children of color simply being joyful and imaginative. It was a short piece, but it stuck with me. It made me ask something I hadn’t considered before, who gets to see themselves in leisure, and who gets access to it at all?

I’ve grown up with the idea that leisure is something you earn, after work, after school, after responsibilities. But the more I learn, the more I see how leisure is actually a basic part of well-being, just like education, housing, or health care. It’s where we play, connect, learn outside the classroom and feel human. And the truth is, not everyone in Utah has equal access to that.

That board book series made me realize how representation itself is a form of leisure. Kids seeing themselves dancing, reading, or exploring through books matters deeply. But it also made me look around my own community and ask: What are the barriers beyond books? How many kids in my city don’t live near a park with working lights? How many families skip extracurriculars because of the fees? How many public spaces feel unsafe or unwelcome depending on who you are?

I’ve started to see that leisure inequality is not a side issue, it’s a justice issue. And as someone hoping to contribute meaningfully to this state, I think we have to do better.

In class, we talk a lot about access. But it’s not just about building more things, it’s about designing intentionally for equity. That means,

I’m not pretending to have all the answers. I’m still learning. But I’ve started volunteering at local rec events and mentoring youth, and I can already see the power of making leisure feel possible for everyone, not just those who can afford it.

I used to think public leisure was about playgrounds and summer camps. Now I see it’s about belonging, about the chance to see yourself in joyful spaces, and to be seen by others too.

If we want Utah to be a place where all kids and families thrive, then equitable leisure must be part of the conversation. As a student, as a future leader, and as a member of this community, I want to help make that happen.

Roman Alatorre, Salt Lake City

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