Posted by abc747 (anonymous) on October 25, 2009 at 12:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

What happened to all the grand promises when the Duncan Park golf course was expanded to 18 holes? Over 100 trees were destroyed, and for what? This "recreation complex" is more pie in the sky malarky. Wake up, Natchezians! The city & county are both broke. Two more gambling boats and a glorified baseball field are not going to return Natchez to the boom days of the 80s.

Posted by Sinbad (anonymous) on October 25, 2009 at 8:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)

abc747, I respect your opinion and your right to express it. However, I disagree on it being "more pie in the sky malarky" as you put it.

Recreational opprotunities for our youth is an absolute must. For now let's forget about the income it might provide for the merchants and the community as a whole.

I have grown children, no grandchildren yet and only one nephew involved in the recreation programs in Natchez. So, I am not looking at this from a personal gain stand point. I am looking at it from the view that children need structure, guidance, positive role models, exercise and things that are fun to occupy their time.

Go to most any successful person in Natchez and ask them if they participated in sporting activities from childhood through high school. The answer will be an almost unanimous yes. Now go to the city and county jails and ask the same question. I think you will get a much different answer.

The people involved in recreation in Natchez such as the board of directors and coaches of almost all organizations are stricktly volunteers. No one gets paid to to go to meetings on a week night during the dead of winter, to discuss for hours, the needs and goals of the upcoming spring's baseball season. Yet they do it continually.

The seemingly unending hours that are spent on planning and practicing, you guessed it, no pay. The hours spent on the phone, or in person, talking to the unhappy parent about why their child is not the quarterback, pitcher, short stop, point guard, ect., you guessed it again, not a dime. No one is perfect and some are far from it, but they are out there giving their time and energy for the kids.

The bottom line is this. I really couldn't care less whether or not a new recreation complex would create the first penny of income to anyone in Natchez, or even cost us all a little. The positive aspects of a first class recreation complex are something the whole community needs, young and old. Would you rather be yelling for a kid to throw the ball home, or yelling at them for what they are doing on the streets and to go home.

PLEASE VOTE YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by wifetoone (anonymous) on October 25, 2009 at 8:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Where is the up keep going to come from?
Money, where will THEY get that from?
Who will do this?
Nobody has answered that for me.

Posted by getalifenatchez (anonymous) on October 25, 2009 at 9:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Typical Natchez negativeness....... How will we ever prosper??? People here have been brainwashed, and think the worse.... We can't see the forest for the trees... The glass is 1/2 empty... We can't see the light @ the end of the tunnel....

Posted by coldad (anonymous) on October 25, 2009 at 12:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

A first class recreational complex could turn in to a regional draw for both youth and adult baseball/softball tournaments. People who attend these events spend money....eating out, staying at a local inn, shopping downtown between games...it will happen.

Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on October 25, 2009 at 1:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Sinbad, what makes you think those in the jail would have used the recreation facilities? We already have facilites, and they didn't use those? The new ones will call for more expensive sign up fees, and you can bet uniforms will cost more. Will the coachs actively go out and ask these kids to play, will they pick them up when daddys too drunk or high to drive them to practice? Without the people to help, the facilities don't matter.

Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on October 25, 2009 at 6:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If sports are supposed to be this great guiding light for youth then why do so many that make a career of it get in so much trouble with drugs and the law? Sports don't make a person any more than desegregation made schools better or students smarter. Natchez had better schools when there was a North Natchez and a South Natchez. Build it and it will be a thorn in the side of everyone until decay and neglect turn it into another eye sore of the racial divide that will always be the namesake of Natchez. Those that can't afford to pay will expect those that can to pay more to cover the costs.

Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on October 25, 2009 at 8:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Ths saddest part of this whole dilema is that the concern shoud be if this if for a better life for the youth and the community. All I see on here is that people are worried about is if it is a good or bad financial investment.