Dear Editor,

This letter is aimed towards all city council members and county officials.

Now that the Discovery Place Kids museum is open, I urge all council members to focus on another important asset to our county — the Parks and Recreation Department.

How many of you have been to the main park or Bynum Field recently? As the parent of two children who participate in recreational sports, I must say that our parks are in need of major updates. If any council member decides to “tour” our parks, and I strongly encourage you to, please keep these few items in mind. In the basketball gym, after you look down at the bubbles on the gym’s floor, glance up and check out the clogged vents in the ceiling. All that dust cannot be good for the heating/air system.

Walk out to the soccer/baseball/softball fields. Check and make sure the bathroom facility is in working order. Does the water work in the sink? Are the toilets flushing? Are the lights working? As you glance across the fields, notice the seven port-a-potties landscaping the outer edges of the fields.

When you leave this park, head on out to Bynum Field. The new paint job looks good, but guess what? No restrooms at all! When baseball season starts, I’m sure port-a-potties will be scattered throughout this park. I really hope the city gets a multi-potty discount. What will it take to improve our parks?

I urge all members to discuss this and come up with a plan. Are more maintenance workers needed? Maintenance is not only keeping the fields maintained, but also keeping the buildings clean. Discuss how a bathroom facility can be added at Bynum Field. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just serve the purpose. A concrete building with drainage in the floors can be easily cleaned and maintained. I believe local workers in this county would give reasonable estimates. Improvements need to be made.

Tournaments held throughout the year attract many visitors from other counties. I imagine they are wondering where the money is being spent — it’s not here at the parks. Let’s put our heads together and come up with a solution!

Nora Hudson

Rockingham