NATCHEZ — For years, politicians, coaches and citizens have talked of building a new youth sports complex.

In an article from June 2001 in the Natchez Democrat, current mayor-elect Jake Middleton, who was then the Ward 6 Alderman and chairman of the recreation committee had said “We’ve sat on this thing long enough. It’s time to move and I’m ready to move.”

Middleton has long been a proponent of building a recreation complex, and now that he’s the mayor-to-be, maybe he’ll have the authority to get progress made.

Once upon a time there was even a plan to build a complex next to Natchez High. That plan, however fizzled.

Since then, local fields have been improved or slightly fixed, but that dream complex is still non-existent.

Over the years, officials let other projects take precedence over the construction of new fields, such as a city auditorium and a convention center.

“In my opinion, the politicians have sold us down the river,” Dixie Youth National Director of Mississippi Clarence A. Bowlin Jr. said. “(Former mayor) Butch Brown had built a convention center. They’d make more money off of a recreation center than a convention center.”

Bowlin went on to say he’s happy the convention center is here, but he would have preferred a recreation complex more.

In theory, both a convention center and a recreation complex would have a similar effect on Natchez.

They are meant — from a financial perspective — to bring tourism to Natchez. Out-of-towners would stay in Natchez hotels, eat Natchez food and possibly even shop in Natchez shops.

Although a complex would likely help make Natchez more attractive to tournaments, it would also cost money to operate.

While the construction would obviously be costly, Bowlin said he wouldn’t expect the complex to have a high maintenance cost to tax payers.

“I would think the city/county would take care of the maintenance of the field,” Bowlin said. “If they made the field available and paid the light bill and mowed the grass, I don’t think it’d be all that expensive.”

Bowlin wants to see someone in power step up and get something accomplished.

“We don’t seem to be able to get anybody to take the bull by the horns and get us a recreation center,” Bowlin said. “In my opinion, that’s what Natchez needs the most.”

Porky Smith, who is a Dixie Youth commissioner, is more of a realist when it comes to building a complex.

“I would be for it. Anything to upgrade what we’ve got, but there’s a lot of things that need to be done before you can commit to something like that,” Smith said. “The city does a great job of cutting the grass and lining the fields, but you would need someone who was there every day.”

Joe Eidt is another youth baseball official who would be in favor of building a complex, as long as more than just baseball fields were included in the project.

“I definitely think we need one,” Eidt said. “I’ve been on the recreation committee since ’93 and that’s been one of our goals.

“But also, I’m in favor of not only ball fields, but soccer fields and improved recreation facilities.

Eidt said he has faith something could get done now that Middleton is mayor.

“Until they make it a priority, it’s just going to continue to get talked about. I have faith Jake will put it on the to-do list.

“I think we need a new complex, regardless of where (Duncan Park) goes. Baseball is comparable here right now (to other facilities), but if we want to do bigger tournaments, we’ll need a new complex.”

Although a new complex is the ultimate goal, Eidt said fixing up Duncan Park’s fields wouldn’t be such a bad idea in the meantime.

“I’m a bit nostalgic, I like the setting of baseball in Duncan Park. It’s a true old-fashioned baseball park,” Eidt said. “I’d like to see these fields upgraded.

How much longer will a sports complex only be a field made of dreams? Time will tell.