By Robbie and Michelle Harris

We were disappointed with Robert Gibson’s recent column (link) that the Recreation Bond Is Not Justified. Our family is very involved with Little League and high school fast pitch softball programs. A half century ago, women’s fast pitch softball was not recognized as a high school or collegiate sport. In 1972 Congress passed the Educational Amendments. One section of this law, Title IX, prohibits discrimination against girls and women in federally-funded education, including in athletics programs. This law helped pave the way of offsetting sports for women (i.e. women’s fast pitch softball to men’s baseball, women’s volleyball to men’s football, etc.). It wasn’t until 1982 that the NCAA held its first fast pitch softball tournament. 

Per data from Paul Langhorst’s March 8, 2016 article titled “Youth Sports Participation Statistics and Trends”: youth fast pitch softball participation is on the rise. Participation is anticipated to rise even more with the reintroduction of fast pitch softball in the 2020 Olympics. Los Alamos Little League girls’ softball numbers are also climbing. Between 2014 and 2017, female participation (tee ball and softball) in Los Alamos County Little League increased by 27 percent while female Tee Ball participation alone experienced a 300 percent increase. 

There is only one dedicated fast pitch softball field in Los Alamos (Bun Ryan). That field is not handicapped accessible (it has a ramp but the grade is incorrect) and the fence distance is not regulation due to originally being built for men’s fast pitch softball. In White Rock, the one dedicated fast pitch softball field (Minors A) is shared with the high school team and Little League softball. Therefore, it is not available until the middle to end of May for Little League and club teams. The field set up is also quite dangerous as foul balls hit over the left foul line fence and onto the Minors B field is not uncommon and can seriously injure, if not kill, an unsuspecting participant/fan.

We understand Mr. Gibson’s comment regarding less physical activity in children in general and not adding more facilities. However, Los Alamos County Little League has seen an increase in registration by over 55 percent between 2014 and 2017 thereby putting even more pressure on the need for dedicated field space. Please understand that the fast pitch softball facilities have NEVER been up to par, up to regulation standards or even safe. We have tried for many years to get these changes made with no luck. Most likely, when these fields were built, women’s fast pitch softball was not yet recognized as a legitimate sport for our young ladies. Now, with increased participation in Little League, soccer, and the introduction of more recent youth sports such as rugby and lacrosse vying for field space, the days of finding an open field at local parks or schools for games or practices are gone.

Also, Mr. Gibson does not mention hockey participation. The local hockey association has lobbied for an indoor rink for many years, again without success. The hockey participants are also on the rise with national participation rates increasing by 44 percent between 2009 and 2014. Our current rink has a very short season since it is uncovered. All hockey players start their season off the hill in Santa Fe for practice and end their season at other facilities. On a personal note, parking at the current rink is congested and very dangerous particularly during hockey tournaments.   

By adding or improving the facilities in the recreation bond, we can provide additional recreational amenities as identified, discussed, and decided on over the past two years by our community. In addition, such facilities will provide more opportunities for increased gross receipts funds through increased out of town traffic to utilize these facilities thereby having a positive impact on our local economy. 

We understand the point of Mr. Gibson’s article to make the county accountable for its current facilities and spending. We are asking you to understand that some of these facilities are in dire need of an overhaul as recreation has been on the short end of the stick when receiving capital improvement funds. Based on Councilor Susan O’Leary’s  December 2016 column titled “O’Leary: Recreation Bond Project Series Part 3; Managing Spinning Plates,” over the last 10 years, the County has spent nearly 90 percent of its capital improvement funds on roads and County facilities with only 3 percent of these funds having gone to recreation amenities. Now is the time and opportunity to invest in recreation in our community!