Proposed parks and recreation bond issue should be approved

Posted: Wednesday, October 06, 1999

Voters living in Amarillo have a couple of very important decisions to make Tuesday.

Two city bond propositions go before the people and, if approved, will provide $24.82 million for parks and recreation improvements (Proposition 1) and $6.91 million for library improvements (Proposition 2).

As important as I believe the library proposition to be, I think it is more appropriate for me to discuss Proposition 1 in detail. I have covered youth sports in Amarillo for a few years now, and I have seen first-hand the need for these improvements to our city parks and recreation facilities.

The largest park project of the proposed bond issue is a new, 173-acre complex on South Grand Street east of Comanche Trail Golf Course. The estimated cost of this complex is $12.5 million.

Plans include six lighted baseball fields, four lighted soccer fields, two soccer fields without lights, six lighted softball fields and a separate complex of eight additional non-lighted soccer fields.

I couldn't help but notice the letters to our newspaper from people stating their belief that Amarillo's present park facilities are sufficient. I am quite sure that these people either 1) do not have children associated with youth sports, or 2) are looking for a reason to vote down the tax increase.

The assumption that the facilities in Amarillo are adequate is false.

With youth baseball, for instance, just finding somewhere to practice can be a nightmare, according to coaches I've spoken to. Battling for backstops with other teams and the numerous youth and adult softball teams in town has become a sport itself.

That's not to mention the fact that YMCA baseball games are played either on converted softball fields at the Martin Road complex (which isn't always available because of softball), or at Kiwanis Park in Northeast Amarillo.

Until recently, none of these fields even had a grass infield. They were not-so-affectionately referred to by many as "gravel pits." Yes, grass infields look nicer, but that's not the most important aspect of a grass field.

For those who may not know, grass helps to slow the ball down before it gets to the infielder. Ten-year-olds can spank the ball pretty hard, and injuries can, and have, occurred because of the poor shape of the infields at Kiwanis Park.

A group of YMCA baseball parents decided recently that if they were going to ask the city to build new parks, they probably should try to take a lead role in helping with improvements at the present facilities.

The parents raised money to put in a grass infield at one of the four fields at Kiwanis Park. It seems to be working so well that more fields are likely to be done soon.

This actually benefited the city, too, because the city owns the fields and leases them to the YMCA for its use. It's a step, but passage of the bond issue would be leaps and bounds better.

Unfortunately, the soccer folks don't have it any better. Soccer has risen so much in popularity recently that Amarillo does not have enough fields for the number of games that need to be played. And many of the fields we have are in poor shape and even can be dangerous for youngsters to play on because the fields have been beaten down from overuse.

Lubbock and Midland have super soccer and baseball facilities, so they get to host all the regional tournaments. Amarillo can't even try to bid on large tournaments. We just don't have facilities here that are appealing or even adequate to host a large tournament.

Don't be fooled, however. That doesn't mean Amarillo teams aren't participating in tournaments. They are. Parents are taking their kids all over the region to play in these events. And their money is going with them.

Wouldn't it be better to bring these events to us, and with them, bring in the large amounts of revenue they would produce?

People have to eat, and people have to sleep.

Right now, Amarilloans are eating and sleeping in other towns during youth sports events. And so are people from Lubbock, Midland, Oklahoma City, Albuquerque and numerous other places. Certainly they would be just as willing to come to Amarillo if we could put on a good tournament right here.

Ultimately, approving the bonds is the choice of the voters.

But Amarilloans always have been good about spending money if it is going to benefit kids. I've seen it many, many times in the past. We love our kids here.

Our city officials have proven themselves to be fiscally responsible, and I believe they would be good stewards of this money and put it to the best possible uses.

In layman's terms, if both portions of the bond issue passed, taxes on the average home, worth about $67,168, would increase $33.58 annually.

I think many of us waste a lot more money than that in the average year.

Early voting continues from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday at Amarillo City Hall, 509 S.E. Seventh Ave., room 306, and at the Randall County Annex, 4111 S. Georgia St. Then, as I said before, election day is Tuesday.

Sure, we're the largest city in Texas not carrying any tax-supported debt.

My question is, is this something to be proud of, or are we sacrificing being the best city we can be to keep a few extra bucks in our pockets?

Ben Newcomb is the Globe-News Friends & Neighbors Sports Writer. He can be reached by phone at 345-3350, or by e-mail at