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Let’s get together on recreation now
Published Friday, September 19, 2008
Thanks to Ben Hillyer for bringing to our attention that we need a recreation complex by using the illustration from the Peanuts comic strip — Lucy jerks the football away just when Charlie Brown tries to kick the ball. Hillyer compared it to politicians jerking recreation off the table as soon as elections are over. Maybe this election will be different.
Here are some thoughts on recreation:
1. Across the railroad tracks in Duncan Park, the city added nine holes to the golf course. There was an adult softball and baseball field across the tracks. By replacing the ball fields with the nine holes, we were told the new nine holes would make enough money to pay for all of recreation. It did not happen.
2. Money was found to help the Natchez Visitor Reception Center. No money was found for recreation.
3. The Natchez Convention Center revenues were supposed to help with recreation. We are still waiting.
4. The tax of $2 per hotel bed would not be used for recreation, but to promote tourism. Can we believe tourism will bring in enough money to help recreation?
As a Dixie Youth National Director, I have attended 38 Dixie Youth World Series games located in towns and cities such as Hattiesburg, Lakeland, Fla., Mount Pleasant, Ala., Texarkana, Ark., Marshall, Texas, West Monroe, La., Laurel, Charleston, S.C., Dothan, Ala., and LaGrange, Ga.
Many of these places are no bigger than Natchez, but all have excellent recreational facilities. Not only do these towns provide a place for recreation, the people that have these facilities enjoy a place to see the children play.
Also, these facilities allow adults to not only relax, but a place for exercise. The recreation director in Montgomery, Ala., told me he makes enough from one adult softball tournament to fund recreation from all of Montgomery.
At each of the World Series events, hundreds of players, parents and supporters attend the games, staying in local motels and hotels and also eating at local restaurants and shopping at local stores.
These facilities not only hold youth ball tournaments, but also adult softball and baseball tournaments as well.
Also, let’s not forget that soccer is the fastest growing sport in the United States, and the need for local soccer playing fields is great.
Here are some things to think about:
1. Natchez and Adams County use the playground at Morgantown School for soccer without lights and other accomodations.
2. Natchez and Adams County have only one regular baseball field that is used by adults, Natchez High, Trinity Episcopal and Cathedral School.
3. Natchez and Adams County have no public swimming pool.
4. The Natchez Lions Club’s 13- and 14-year-old baseball teams play behind Covington Church of Christ.
5. Natchez and Adams County have no adult softball field.
Let’s hope that Adams County and Natchez can get together and help this by biting the bullet and providing recreation facilities for all of the people of the area.
Clarence A. Bowlin is active in Dixie Youth sports in the Miss-Lou and across the state.
Comments
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 12:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We don't have a ski slope either, or a skateboard park, or a motocross or grand prix track either.
Maybe we should slaughter some goats in St Mary's Park and see if some money to buy all this stuff will materialize.
Posted by pbnj (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 7:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
No need to be a smarty pants, I don't think ball fields are to much to ask for.
Posted by pbnj (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 8:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Would it really be that bad if they closed the golf course and put fields in at duncan park. then you could keep children sports together and not spread out. This is just an idea since everyone says Duncan Park golf does not make any money.
Posted by Doc_Fungo (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 8:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'll bet if Dixie Youth had put that mandatory $10 for a memorable baseball photo of your child (It was $10 back when I played 40 years ago!) in a building fund, along with compounding interest, you'd probably have enough $$ to easily build a recreation facility by now!!!
Heck, Clarence took the pics himself back in those days.
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The card isn't a bad idea. There could even be other uses...
The full DVD collection of Mayor West's four year term and along with that, a complimentary autographed copy of the demolished Pecan Factory.
The complete DVD collection of all the Alderman meetings from Natchez C-SPAN network.
A night at the Miller's bed & breakfast including a dozen Fat Mama tamales and a Knock Ya Naked Margarita
A weekend "Fright Night" carriage ride down West Stiers Lane
An extra meatball at Lil' Dago's with their all-you-can-eat Spaghetti Special. ( The toughest ticket in town!)
A complimentary bottle of Ferriday water
The possibilities are endless!!!
BWAH!
Posted by pbnj (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 10:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That is pretty funny. All so true.
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 11:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I would fight tooth and nail with my whole heart for anyone to have the right to voice their opinion. BUT, this is not the time or place for wanna-be comedians to voice their inane opinions. This is a very dear and worthwhile subject to most people in the NTZ/AC and the majority find no 'funny' in it. Please if you have no worth while ideas to help with this dilemma leave the space open for the ones that do.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 11:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think your plan to close the golf course at Duncan Park is a good on pbnj. Then there would be plenty of room for more ball fields. The city and county could enter a partnership with Beau Pre for the golfers.
Even though recreation is for the kids it is hard not to notice how much more room is alloted to adult activity at Duncan Park than to kid's activity (which has to be split up into different age groups to hold their interest).
Posted by fuzzmonkey (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 12:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't think ball fields are a bad thing either. I played on the Duncan Park fields 40 years ago and not much has changed. We need new facilities. Vidalia seems to pull it off why not look into what they do. Natchez is losing kids to that program much like the Adams County Schools are losing out to the Concordia Parish System. You see these Natchez Recreation cars around town and at the Mall for a few hours a couple of times a week. What do these people do and what are their salaries.
Don't worry about Doc he like to keep things interesting. just go to the Miss-Lou sports board to see. He really does mean well.
Enkikur good luck with Beau Pre being a public course, that would be fun to watch.
Posted by MSviaTN (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 12:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Destiny - Breathe - In Out - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 :)
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 1:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think you are such a precious person destiny, but I couldn't help but laugh at Doc_Fungo. Sometimes inserting a little laughter in the situation eases the tension and folk can come to a better understanding.
pbnj and EnKiKur...both of you have the right idea. Why don't they just stop all the spittin' 'n smackin' about it and take action on it? It's the best idea so far and hurts less golfer's lil ole feelings.
Here in Vidalia, the adult softball field is paid for through tournament charges (and probably from other sources). The adults in this group take care of their own field and its expenses. Good idea, don't ya think?
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 1:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, kpage it is a good idea to pay for what you want yourself. Natchez city government and media can't grasp that idea though, not when the people are so amenable to being taxed at ever higher rates. The fault is public education over there. The people don't know how to add and subtract and don't understand that when you are out of money that means you can't buy anything else.
The ball players should form their own leagues and raise their own funds if the fields provided by the churches and schools aren't good enough for them. It's not that they don't have places for these activities it's just that they aren't good enough for Natchez sensibilties.
Back in the days when they were still burning crosses in the baseball field at the end of the road in Duncan Park- that field that had the sponsors signs along the fence- Natchez was a more vibrant and self sustaining town, willing to roll up its sleeves and get things done. But times change and Natchez has become a beggar and I guess those sponsors have moved on to other things.
Now the desire is to force the taxpayers build a multi-million dollar sports complex to keep the Chamber of Commerce members limping along with recreation dollars since the tourism and casino business hasn't panned out so well.
I do have another idea for industry Natchez could court for the new multi million dollar industrial park. A walker and wheelchair factory with a sideline in caskets would provide useful goods for the Natchez economy the business leaders are building over there.
Posted by jack (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 2:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
erkikur no they all died good men like preacher brown who did all the work at the dixie youth ball fields for years with no pay he just wanted to help the kids
Posted by andy (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
anything is better than nothing we all know recreation will bring in some tax money, but at whose cost
Posted by wonderingirl (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 7:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Where would one find the breakdown for the recreation dept.'s budget? I'd like to know what portion of the budget is spent on the public golf course at Duncan Park. I remember when taxpayers were told an 18 hole course would not only be self sufficient but make money. This money would be used to support the recreation program for youths and others. What happened? There seems to be quite a bit of difference between the fees charged golfers at Duncan Park and what is charged at Beau Pre. Why can't they pay more? If the program can make the course available to such a select few who aren't even all taxpayers why can't they pony up more for their hobby? I have to pay for the leisure things that interest me and they are not tax subsidized. Why did the privately owned golf course out at Fenwick fail? Was playing at Duncan Park cheaper? Anyhow, just wondering what portion of the budget is golf. Anybody know?
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 9:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. Bowlin,
I am glad to hear you are doing well still. I agree that recreation has never been at the forefront in Natchez like it needs to be. I was at the Hattiesburg Facility last summer and was very impressed with the state of teh art facility they have built.Laurel also has one of the finest around, too. Those towns realize that young families need recreation for their children as well as a nice house and SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS.
ON THE OUTSIDE FOR A SECOND, have the people of Natchez been watching what is happeneing in Hazlehurst in the schools the last week? State help, coming to a school very near to you very soon....
Posted by purplehaze (anonymous) on September 20, 2008 at 1:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Everyone seems to forget that Duncan Park was given to the city with very strict guidelines on what it was to be used for. "The Children Of Natchez"!!! Another example of the adults in this town not having any common sense or knowledge of the difference between right and wrong. The people that conveniently forgot or overlooked the children in Natchez were only thinking of themselves and how it would affect their time off. They certainly wouldn't want to spend that time doing something constructive with children.
Bottom line is that Duncan Park was never and I repeat NEVER to be used for anything except the children.
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on September 20, 2008 at 8:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Isn't that a shame, purplehaze! I didn't know that. Who gave it to the city? Private folk? Well, they definitely got faaaarrr away from that plan! Imagine how wonderful Duncan Park could be if it was all for the kids!!!!
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on September 20, 2008 at 8:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
All the acreage out at the Liberty Park area was privately donated by the original owner specifically for the children and horses. Look what happened there. I asked one of the horse owners that kept his horses there why didn't they band together and fight the take over by the city to steal it away from them and the children. I got no reply. The city stole it and sold it to the state to be used as part of the grounds for the high school. Of course no one from the city will acknowledge this fact but I very well remember what happened. The original owner that willed the property has probably turned over in her grave several time about that issue. Never did hear how much the city really got for that land that was stolen from the kids of Natchez.
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on September 20, 2008 at 9:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
And once again I would like to emphasize the fact that our higher up leaders (I use that term loosely) all have their kids in private schools that have their own private facilities with private home swimming pools, so why would they take the time or effort to spend our public tax dollars on public facilities for our public kids. Also, there have been many grants to come to Natchez for the kids but they are quickly gobbled up by some of the greedy hands at Alcorn and other different hands of the 'upper crust'. They know how to sneak this by the public without the public becoming aware of what's going on and they have no shame about it. That's the reason our youngsters will do without until we get leaders that care for the common good of Natchez.
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