In a month’s time Natchez children will trade their textbooks for television.

School will end and summer fun will begin. Local children can participate in library reading programs or attend Bible school.

Those already on a Dixie Youth team will pass some time on the diamond, but what about the others?

Natchez has no public swimming pool.

The Natchez Trace now consumes the old Liberty Road ballparks.

And the best public soccer field is a makeshift one behind a school.

Recreation options in Natchez are hardly a home run.

City, county and recreation leaders have spent the last seven or so years batting around ideas for a recreational complex.

A multi-million dollar plan fell by the wayside years ago.

In 2004 an out-of-town consultant told the city it needed recreation in a big way and suggested finding a local investor.

In 2005 the city told the county they’d need their help to fund any recreational improvements. But no countywide system was ever developed.

Now, summer’s coming again and our children have no place to play.

Recreation should be a priority for city and county leaders. A complex would keep children occupied, socialized and out of trouble. They’d learn, grow and develop healthy habits.

But for the rest of us, recreation means economic development. It means a happy community and a bright future.

The city and county should pool funds and resources. Perhaps local investors are the best option. Let’s find them. Maybe the money has to come from what we’ve got.

Either way, without recreation our community cannot truly ever swing for the fences.