robin_tern t1_j9uiwcu wrote on February 24, 2023 at 5:35 PM

Reply to comment by Blecher_onthe_Hudson in Public/open space(parks, fields etc) by ten-ski

This is so correct, what a waste of space at Clemente, as well as the large grass baseball field behind White Star.

Robin

Ainsel72l t1_j9vk4mt wrote on February 24, 2023 at 9:33 PM

It's hardly a waste of space if your kid is in a league.

ten-ski OP t1_j9vtb9j wrote on February 24, 2023 at 10:35 PM

I believe waste of space sounds a little harsh, and there definitely needs to be space for the kids little league games, but to have so much space locked up and unused for over half of the year and even during the season, unused for majority of the day, just doesn’t sound right, I mean there has to be some way to make this better right?

Ainsel72l t1_j9vwwlz wrote on February 24, 2023 at 10:59 PM

There are plenty of alternative parks around, maybe just not on your block. Many people don't have parks closer than about a mile away. Unless it's a pocket park (and we recently got one in our neighborhood), most of the parks are found on the outer edges of the city. Downtown has more than most.

Getting field time was never easy, especially for the older kids who had to share with different leagues. You didn't just get to walk out and grab a field for your game.it had to be scheduled. With so little else for kids to do, the little league fields should be hands off.

robin_tern t1_ja4khvt wrote on February 26, 2023 at 8:14 PM

Absolutely should be used for little league baseball and for adult baseball on the big field, which it is. However the problem is it is empty so much of the time, and when it is empty it is locked up and nobody other than a few well connected people can use it.

It is criminal that a city sports field is idle as much as those fields are, that big grass baseball field could be used way more than it is. My fantasy is to setup a time lapse camera on that field to show how much it is empty, and take the video to a council meeting.

Again, nobody is proposing taking field time from little leagues (or big leagues), rather to make the field available for use when it is otherwise empty.

Robin.

Ainsel72l t1_ja4mwbn wrote on February 26, 2023 at 8:30 PM

What would the fields be used for? Dog walking? Play areas? Picnics? Who would pay to put the fields back to right after the public tramples or damages them? Who would be responsible for cleaning and maintenance expenses? I can't agree that this is a good idea when there are other park options readily available for general use.