I would like to start off by telling you my name is Jerome Curro. My wife Caroline and I moved to Natchez in April of this year after being in Jackson and Madison for the past 10 years. I am an agent with Farm Bureau Insurance and a new member of Leadership Natchez. We really love it here in Natchez and would like to see this great town flourish.

Before making the move to Natchez we looked at several key factors. We looked at the schools, the opportunity for growth and the community as a whole. One factor that we did not consider was the presence of a recreational complex and the reason being is I thought there was no way in the world that Natchez did not have one.

I was absolutely shocked and disappointed when I called the City Recreation Department to find out about adult softball, basketball, flag football etc. and they told me that the adult softball league was at the First Baptist fields. While I am grateful and appreciative that First Baptist runs this league and allows us to use their fields, the fields are not in great shape and only one field has lights.

Over the last few years in the Metro area I have seen complexes built in Ridgeland, Canton and Flowood as well as sites upgraded in Jackson, Brandon and Madison. Being an avid adult softball player myself, I have also seen complexes built around the south in general, great complexes located in Hattiesburg, Starkville and Gulfport just to name a few.

Leagues and weekend tournaments bring large amounts of revenue to the cities with as many as 50 teams attending. Those teams and their families will eat, shop and stay in hotels.

Let’s face it, Natchez main industry is tourism and with as pretty as Natchez is, a recreation complex would greatly enhance the tourism aspect of the city. A recreation complex with adult softball fields, baseball fields, soccer fields and a pool will no doubt be a huge revenue generator for all of Adams County.

I want to personally thank Leadership Natchez, Jake Middleton and Mike Lazarus for pushing this great tool for all of Natchez.

Ask anyone who follows major athletics and they will tell you that if you do not remain competitive with facilities you will get run over.

People of Natchez, let’s not allow ourselves to be run over. Let’s build a top notch facility that we can be proud of that will become another industry that will never be in danger of leaving.

Again, citizens of Natchez and all of Adams County, vote for the nonbinding referendum on recreation on Nov. 3.

Please attend the open forum on Oct. 19 at 6 p.m. at the convention center for more information.

Vote “yes” to economic development.

Vote “yes” to our children.

Vote “yes” to recreation on Nov. 3.

Jerome Curro

Natchez resident