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Use surplus to build up recreation
Published Sunday, August 24, 2008
Natchez: Where the old South still lives and the new South can’t seem to build a new ball field to save its hoopskirt legacy.
Natchez and Adams County have literally been talking about improving recreation for more than a generation.
Yet, virtually nothing has been done.
In fact, we’re going backward.
A generation ago, Natchez youth had access to a public swimming pool at Duncan Park.
Eventually, the leaking, out-of-date pool was closed with the promise and hope that the City of Natchez would work on finding the funds to build another pool, a newer, safer, easier-to-maintain pool.
Another school year has just begun, signaling another swimless summer for thousands of Natchez-Adams County students.
In the last 20 years, recreation officials have worked hard to maintain what we’ve got, but it’s a battle we’re slowly losing.
Like Havana auto mechanics, who must patch up 1950s cars without access to modern replacement parts because of the embargo, the volunteers and paid recreation staff who keep the city’s existing facilities operating deserve great respect.
Few people can work as much magic as these people can with a few gallons of paint, rakes, shovels and lots of hard work.
But enough is enough.
We need some new, modern facilities.
Heck, I’d be willing to say that if the city and county could simply come together and find the land required, the community could practically build the facilities needed with volunteer help and donated funds.
Our community raises massive money for charities such as the United Way and the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.
We’ve even managed to create a sizable stockpile of matching funds for the Natchez Trails Project. Almost certainly some of that fund-raising drive and the let’s-roll-up-our-sleeves-and-get-to-work attitude could make some amazing progress.
Somehow one almost has to believe that a similar, grassroots effort could give a new recreation complex the boost that it will not get from the political leaders.
Almost everyone says they support efforts to bring a new recreation facility to Natchez-Adams County, but few people in positions of power have the guts to stand up and fight for the youth.
At the city level, we’ve managed to accomplish — through public and private funding — a visitors center, convention center even a federal courthouse. Yet our children play on the same ball fields on which their grandfathers played.
It’s all about money, critics say. Everything is. But chalking it up to only money is missing a huge opportunity.
The county appears to be poised to have a nice surplus of cash this year. Some supervisors are already jockeying to give it back to taxpayers in the form of a temporary tax decrease.
It’s difficult to imagine a decrease — for most folks, probably $50 to $100 on their annual property tax — as having much of an impact on the economy.
While giving a tax cut may seem like a politically smart thing to do, it’s a temporary tax cut that will be quickly forgotten.
Wiser use of the funds would be in building some new, something that could change the course of recreation and quality of life in our area.
It is truly a shame that our community has continually failed to provide top-notch recreation facilities for our youth.
And the children of the new South deserve better.
Kevin Cooper is publisher of The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached at 601-445-3539 or kevin.cooper@natchezdemocrat.com
Comments
Posted by callinitlikeitis (anonymous) on August 24, 2008 at 12:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
what do the wedding articles have to do with this article?
just read thru the articles of each wedding to see the what the last line says.
a high percentage of the time, the newly married couple will not be living in natchez nor their future children.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on August 24, 2008 at 1:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Would this "recreation facility" cater to a wide range of activities and sports? Or only 1 or 2? My level of support depends on the answer. This is one of those topics kicked about on a regular basis (like city/county consolidation) for which there never seems to be any type of formulated plan. It gets old hearing about it. Plan it, present it to the public (not a select few) and then try and gather the support. Until now its been done backwards.
Posted by Swapmeet (anonymous) on August 24, 2008 at 1:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with you Kevin. We need more recreation for our youth. We just need to figure out how to do it.
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on August 24, 2008 at 10:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Swapmeet, the first step is forcing (in some manner) the promises the city leaders have made to us in their campaign to get elected. They all promise and we want to believe them and are stung once again by their refusal to live up to their word. Most of the leaders have their children in private schools so therefore their children have their own private agendas. They do not need public arenas. We must keep this in mind next voting period and find someone who is not affiliated with the private sector and then maybe we will stand a chance of getting the facilities we need for our children. We have to find good men and women who are willing to work hard for the public sector. Just maybe thinking in this vein, we will put an end to this constant chain of heart break for our children. Stop voting for the private sectors. VOTE PUBLIC LEADERS FOR PUBLIC CHILDREN'S RIGHTS.
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on August 24, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Also keep in mind that most of our city leaders have private swimming pools for their children so why should they worry about a public pool.
Posted by NatchezBell (anonymous) on August 24, 2008 at 12:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Amen to all of the above!!! Why in the world can't anyone help get Natchez a Huge Recreation Spot. If I still had any of the Plantation left; I'd give the land freely for such as this. My cousins still have it and should think about it. Everybody is too SUE happy to want to venture into that type of thing...the risk of being sued is overwhelming to most people that have anything too loose. On the other hand; if the (intire group) Whom ever uses any of the Areas to swim, play, etc. would sign wavers before being able to join such a place...maybe that would work. And that wouldn't make it Private...just doable. Think about it. What's the first thing almost every adult says that gets hurt on another property. I'll tell you...>>>SUE<<<seems to always be the answer. Maybe it's high time you use your own insurance to cover your Boo-Boos...or like me; do with out. And it's a pain in the butt for real with old age pain. I can't afford to go get an MRI but God knows I need one. What gives...Help!!! We the people can do it.
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on August 24, 2008 at 10:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Make it to where you have to pay a fee once a year with a signed waver...
You are right natchezbell people are to SUE happy these days..Easy money they think...Maybe just maybe if people had to pay a yearly fee to join it would help who knows....
Posted by SayItRight (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 7:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't forget the allocation for security to protect the pool patrons and the property. Build it and they will come, build it and they will tear it up too. There are always those who have no respect for what they and others around them will be using. Parents of those who frequent the pool should have to take a turn or two at helping to watch what goes on. It should not be a dumping ground for children whose parents consider it a babysitter. But you can bet, it will be.
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 7:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have said that Natchez needs a new recreation area. Glad to see others agree. BUT, it must have a great deal of security.
Posted by natchezsouthside (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
But wait, the Mayor said this was all pre-mature! Didn't he??
Posted by natchezsouthside (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 10:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Make the rules simply that all minors must be accompanied by parent or guardian and the parent or guardian are liable for any costs related to damages, and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 11:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
And the parent will claim that they did not know their teenager was down there doing anything wrong...and they will go to court and claim they are destitute. And it will never have anything done about it. Put money in the budget for night time security all year round and you may have a chance at it working.
Posted by natchezsouthside (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 12:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Also make people have to pay $5 a day to use the pool.
There ain't no more free lunch.
Posted by natchezsouthside (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 12:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Their teen is still a minor. No addmitance w/o a parent or guardian. This aint a babysitting service.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on August 25, 2008 at 9:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Natchez: Where the old South still lives and the new South can’t seem to build a new ball field to save its hoopskirt legacy."...the initial sentence in this article is intentionally devisive, totally unwarranted and completely unnecessary and inflammatory. I'm not a member of the "hoopskirt mafia", but Kevin knows full well that it was a cheap hook and a cheap shot.
I've got no problem with building recreation facilities if we can afford them. I also agree that it has been used as a political football for generations and has always been an incomplete pass. The problem I have with this article is that the Natchez Democrat, via Kevin Cooper, has the audacity to dictate to the Board of Supervisors what they should do with a surplus they don't really have.
The BOS is trimming the budget and any savings found belong to the taxpayers, not to Kevin and the ND except insofar as they contribute themselves. It is up to the taxpayers, through their elected officials, to determine what happens, if, and only if (it's not a done deal) there is a surplus.
Let's determine if there IS a surplus. At that point in time let's debate the potential uses including recreation, recycling and rebates. The people should decide, not Kevin and the ND from this soapbox.
Imagine, Kevin, IMAGINE!
Posted by andy (anonymous) on August 26, 2008 at 4:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
good luck kevin use the ink on them, peter does at the childrens expense and watts and lazarus fell fot it they can keep my little $30.00 tax and buy a ball for the kids
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