How interesting to read that the city has obtained a grant for a skateboarding park. I extend my congratulations.

Of course I can count on one finger the number of my friends whose kids skateboard, and I don’t see large groups of kids congregating in public areas skateboarding but I guess that doesn’t matter. I wonder how many skateboarding tournaments the city will be holding that will attract large numbers of out-of-town guests to fill our hotels and restaurants for weekends at a time. I just hope the skateboarding funds don’t get re-appropriated for some other city project.

On the other hand, I can’t count the number of people I know who have kids who play baseball. Every weekend during baseball season, and on through the summer, there are large crowds of people congregating at the baseball fields at Halls Ferry Park. During the Governor’s Cup there are hundreds of out-of-town guests filling our hotels and restaurants.

The city had funds set aside for the upgrading of our baseball facilities but these funds were re-appropriated for bridge repair — a bridge that still doesn’t exist by the way. Our baseball facilities are in desperate need of upgrading and repair.

While we try to invent new things for kids to do we neglect the old tried and true things. This is a baseball town in need of a decent baseball facility. It’s becoming an embarrassment to have out-of-town teams see what we have to offer.

How long before we lose the Governor’s Cup to cities that offer top notch fields, concession stands and bathroom facilities?

Sure hope all those skateboarders can fill in the gap.

Karen Kirk

Vicksburg