The local YMCA is just beginning to become organized ahead of the construction of a new community pool and multipurpose fields, and already we can smell a whiff of potential discontent.

For decades, our community has discussed, considered and mulled improving recreation in Natchez-Adams County. After much work and a landslide of support in a non-binding referendum several years ago, the project is slowly beginning to move.

A joint city and county agreement has been made. The effort is to combine forces under one entity and then partner with the YMCA to help manage it.

Leaders with the YMCA spoke last week to county supervisors to provide an update on the progress.

The organization is already working to kick off a youth soccer league in the area while work begins on the multipurpose fields and later the swimming pool.

Yet, Supervisor Ricky Gray began calling into question the YMCA’s plans to charge a fee for access to the swimming pool. He correctly pointed out that many of the area’s children live in families at or below the poverty line. His concern is genuine that he doesn’t want a poor child to be prevented from participating due to economics.

That’s a valid concern, and one that we are certain the Natchez-Adams County Recreation Commission will take into account as they work with the YMCA to make a plan that works well for our community.

But that concern should not be allowed to derail the progress already made on making a renewed effort at recreation.

We cannot allow another generation of local children to continue playing on facilities on which their own great-grandfathers played.

The time for Natchez-Adams County to get modern with its recreation facilities is long overdue.

We trust that with open, honest communication, we can make the plans currently on the table work well.