Give it your all for recreation guys!

By Ben Hillyer (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Friday, September 19, 2008

It is hard not to pull from the bag of worn out sports quotes to write about the city and county’s battle over recreation.

Literally thousands of overused sports phrases exist about leadership, adversity and planning that might apply to the current recreation debate. There is a whole Web site devoted to such meaningless expressions. It’s www.sportscliche.com for those who wonder.

The use of these clichés is easy. They require little original thought and imagination.

Unfortunately, the same could be said about the current stalemate between the city and county. It has become just as tired and worn as most of the clichés used in the sports world.

I have photographed, reported and editorialized about the recreation debate in Natchez for many years. I have been to regular meetings of both the Adams County Board of Supervisors and the Natchez Board of Aldermen and even to joint meetings of both groups at which recreation was the focus of both rhetoric and real energy.

The recreation debate has not changed one bit since the first meeting I covered nearly eight years ago.

The city can’t do it without the county. The county won’t do it without a plan.

Everyone agrees that something needs to be done about recreation, yet nothing gets done.

Sound like clichés to you?

It sounds to me more like our leaders forgetting their remarkable human gift of creative thinking.

In an effort to move the debate, I offer this brainstorm of an idea — discount cards. Yes, discount cards.

If city leaders are serious about building a recreation complex for its citizens and county leaders aren’t willing to help pay for it, then the city needs to figure out a way of funding the project.

One way to pay for the project would be for the city to offer the Play Natchez card.

Such a card would give city residents a percentage discount off fees charged at Natchez recreation facilities.

Want to play a round of golf at Duncan Park? Just present your Play Natchez card and get a discount on your greens fees, bucket of balls and golf cart.

Non-residents — including county residents — without such a card, would pay the normal fees without the discount.

A percentage of the fees from non-residents and those without the discount card would go toward the construction and maintenance of a new sports complex.

The same card could be used for tennis court fees and admission price to Dixie Youth Baseball and youth softball events.

If you think about it, there are many possibilities for the Play Natchez card.

Want a hot dog and a bag of popcorn? Bring your card and get 25 percent off your purchase at the ballpark concession stand.

Want to park closer to the ball field? Like the parking on game day at most colleges and universities, exclusive parking areas could be offered to residents with discount cards.

Other parking areas would be offered for a nominal fee.

For residents, Play Natchez cards would be offered for free at City Hall and area recreation facilities. Just present your license or other proof of residency and get cards for you and your entire family.

Acquiring the card would not be mandatory for all city residents and wouldn’t prevent anyone from using city recreation facilities.

Play Natchez cards for non-residents could be issued much like out-of-state hunting licenses or like multi-day passes at amusement parks. Money for these cards would also go to fund a new sports complex.

The discount card idea might not work, but at least it is something different than tired excuses.

It’s time for both city and county leaders to step it up, take it to the next level and give 110 percent, because it’s crunch time.

Sorry, I just couldn’t resist.

Ben Hillyer is the web editor of The Natchez Democrat . He can be reached at 601-445-3540 or by e-mail at ben.hillyer@natchezdemocrat.com.