Rocket Ball Park the realization of a dream
Many communities these days have assets that slip through the cracks, parks and recreational facilities which, for one reason or another, become unused and therefore receive little maintenance or improvements, usually leading to further deterioration and loss of interest in the community. Eventually these areas can become, as happens in many urban areas, a breeding ground for illegal activities and a gathering place for gangs.
But not in Warren County. Here there are those who take pride in our community and make an effort to maintain and use all our assets, even those that may be hidden to some extent.
Take Rocket Ball Park for instance. The area has quite a bit of historic significance, having once been the home of the McMinnville Rockets baseball team. But over the years, the park had slowly fallen into disuse, leading one local organization, Young Men United, as well as interested citizens who remembered its past glory, to vocally request its restoration.
Of course, it’s one thing to talk, but quite another to listen, which is exactly what the city fathers eventually did in this case. Though it took some time and concerted effort from those involved, over the last two years, the city has allocated $10,000 toward improvements to the park, turning it into a viable arena for a variety of activities, including a practice field for local ball teams and a meeting place for the group that has championed its cause, YMU, as well as providing a recreational hub for the neighborhood.
Local legislators are to be commended for listening and reacting to pleas from the community to save a hidden asset and take advantage of an area that has always had potential, but suffered from lack of interest and a lack of funds.
Because of the efforts of those interested citizens, McMinnville will soon have a place for community meetings, ball games and recreation, a well-kept practice field for local youth ball teams, and a safe and secure place for neighborhood children to play and participate in sports.
YMU spokesman Wayne Wolford has talked often about the importance of providing local youth with positive role models and interesting and fun activities. The new and improved Rocket Ball Park will provide a venue to offer all that and more. It will also preserve a bit of local history and become an asset again, rather than a potential liability.
Kudos to everyone involved. Rocket Ball Park is an example of what can happen when citizens and government work together to improve the community, to make it a better place and improve the lives of those who are lucky enough to reside within its boundaries.
This is a case of citizens speaking from their hearts and being heard by those who finally recognized how eloquent those words were, and provided the means to achieve a dream.
Just go down to Rocket Ball Park someday and look into the eyes of the children playing and enjoying the new facilities, and one thing will be obvious.
It was money well spent.