Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Ballpark figure pitched for new fields - Dan Rodgerson

Ballpark figure pitched for new fields
The Greenville News - Greenville, S.C.
Author: Anna B Brutzman
Date: Mar 2, 2005
Start Page: A.1
Section: Front
Text Word Count: 992

Document Text
Little League teams hope to swing funds for facilities

By Anna B. Brutzman

STAFF_WRITER

Brutzman@greenvillenews.com

There won't be the usual parade down Brushy Creek Road on Northwood Little League's opening day March 26.

The baseball fields at the league's home of 25 years -- Northwood Middle -- have been scraped away to make room for a new school. The backstops, concession stand, picnic tables and wooden bleachers are gone, and this year's 600 players are migrating from field to field at county parks, churches and schools to keep their league together.

Watching his 11-year-old son, Andrew, field grounders at his first practice of the season Tuesday, Northwood Little League parent Mitch Glasko wondered why the county doesn't spend more money on baseball programs.

"It's a shame," he said. "They spend money on everything else."

Dual proposals that Greenville County Council member Jim Burns pitched Tuesday would provide a total of $1 million for Northwood to build five fields -- but at the expense of other recreation projects. They were referred to the council's finance committee and need final approval from the full council.

Northwood Little League coach David Chemell said the league has a strong place in the community -- he works with kids whose grandparents played for Northwood.

"It'll be different this year," he said.

Burns' proposal comes four months after former Greenville County Council Chairwoman Phyllis Henderson failed in her bid to cut tourism grants for the arts to help Northwood build a new $3 million complex on the Enoree River. Without county help, the league runs the risk of dissolving, Burns said.

Little League parent Angela Bovee of Greer said she and other parents are worried about what will happen if the county doesn't approve supporting a new home park for the league.

"There won't be a team," she said.

Still, about $400,000 that Burns recommended for Northwood comes from County Council surplus funds allocated in December for other parks. Nine parks, ranging from the Pavilion to a new home for Camp Spearhead, would lose 10 percent of the funding the county committed for new facilities and renovations. Another $600,000 would be borrowed and paid off over the next 10 to 15 years, but it would use $70,000 in annual tourism grants the Greenville County Recreation District has used in the past for a variety of other projects.

"When we didn't really have enough money to do projects right in the first place, shaving 10 percent is a challenge," said Dan Rodgerson, Greenville County Recreation District executive director.

Some of the money has also already been spent, Rodgerson said, including $375,000 for new soccer fields on Anderson Ridge Road. Under Burns' proposal, the fields are only supposed to get $337,500.

Burns said exceptions would be made for such situations, and he expects tweaks in the plan over the coming weeks.

Greenville resident Farrell Thomas said he is sympathetic to the urgency of Northwood's needs but questioned why the council would divert money from areas of the county that are much more needy. He is executive director of the Piedmont Christian Athletic Association, a group in southern Greenville County largely targeting at-risk minority youths for baseball, soccer, basketball, track and golf teams. Two projects near Piedmont -- at Woodmont High and in the Princeton area -- would lose a total of $95,000 in funding under Burns' proposal.

"There are no facilities in the Piedmont area," he said. "For these individuals, sports is an outlet. It keeps you out of trouble."

Council member Joe Dill, who represents northern Greenville County, also objected to Burns' proposal during Tuesday's council meeting -- it would cut $95,000 from a Blue Ridge park project.

Blue Ridge resident David Carson said his 18-year-old son played baseball with Northwood, and he has always supported the program. But like Thomas, he questioned why the county would neglect his area.

"I guess people assume there's so many trees, there's no need for a park," he said, adding that kids need organized activities: "It's a health issue. Look at all the heavy-set kids."

Northwood's time to build a new home is running short -- ground must be broken by July for fields to be ready for the 2006 season, according to Northwood coach Pat Fitzsimmons.

The Eastside community needs the fields, he said, because it depended in the past on the eight ball fields the Little League operated at Northwood Middle, he said. According to county recreation officials, there are only four public baseball fields in the Eastside.

Northwood's plan is to recreate what it had at its former site, on land donated to the Greenville County Recreation District by the Western Carolina Regional Sewer Authority, Fitzsimmons said. Ultimately, the league wants to build a concession stand and restrooms, a playground and parking lot. The Little League has committed $500,000 and would run the fields. It had counted on about $1.75 million coming from the county for construction.

"The idea is to have a nice park on the Eastside," Fitzsimmons said.

'Staff writer E. Richard Walton contributed to this story.

BE HEARD

Find out how online

+The Greenville County Council is considering how to fund ballfields. Read the proposals and learn where to voice your views by clicking on Local News and selecting Politics at: GreenvilleOnline.com

WHAT'S NEXT

+The $1 million in dual funding proposals to start construction of Northwood Little League fields needs approval by the county's finance committee. Once back in County Council's hands, the proposal will then need a public hearing and two affirmative council votes.

"They've been struggling to find adequate places to play. They had to cut practices short."

Jenni Gentry, Taylors

"It'll be different this year."

David Chemell, Northwood Little League coach

Mugs with quotes

Cutline: PATRICK COLLARD/Staff

Wound up: Northwood Little Leaguer Austin Burrows throws to first base during his team's first practice of the year Tuesday night at Butler Springs Park. League officials are seeking county help to build five new fields.






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