Dear Editor,
New pool or hardball diamond? That’s the question facing the residents of Barrhead. I say we need both. Installing a new piece of recreational infrastructure at the expense of another doesn’t make sense to me. Especially when that existing piece is a distinct part of Barrhead’s rich sporting history.
Like many kids growing up in Barrhead, I watched the Barrhead Orioles and the Yankees play on the Green Monster. I dreamed of playing there myself, and later, was fortunate enough to do so. Kids strived to be a part of those teams and those dreams of excellence are just as important today as they were then. Yet if Council’s decision stands, Barrhead will lose not only its hardball diamond, but also the tradition of sporting pride that it symbolizes.
I know these decisions are not easy ones; I sat on the Town council when we decided to invest a significant amount of Barrhead taxpayers’ dollars into upgrading the hardball diamond. Today, it is a piece of infrastructure that incurs minimal costs to taxpayers. To replace it would not be feasible. Sending kids to play baseball out of town is not only bad economics, it is not realistic. To relocate a pool that’s still in the planning stages is entirely feasible.
The Barrhead and District Agrena Society has committed to raising funds for the new aquatic centre. They have also put forward proposals for suitable sites, their first choice being the site north of the existing pool. I urge council to re-examine this issue. Speaking as a person born and raised in Barrhead, I can only say that the loss of the community’s only baseball diamond would be a major loss to Barrhead. On behalf of future generations, I humbly ask Council to take another look at their decision. Don’t steal our bases.
Brian Storseth, MP
Westlock – St. Paul
