Batavia Sports Park has the OK to continue being a place to play soccer, lacrosse and rugby games, tournaments and much more -- with the full support of the town.
The Town Board board agreed Wednesday to spend about $60,000 on the Batavia Sports Park for an additional two years. The developers of the park plan to update the driveway, parking lot and add three more regulation-size soccer fields for community use.
Board members were glad to continue supporting the effort that they say has only benefited the town -- noting it's a good example of how cooperation between the public and private sectors can be for the good of all.
Supervisor Greg Post said a report a few years ago proved the need for more sports fields, so the Town of Batavia came up with a plan.
“Rather than spend public funds purchasing land and developing a facility, it was the town's thought to enlist those members of the committee that had access to and were willing to partner with us in the creation of the concept of an athletic complex (Batavia Sports Park) on the turf farms on Bank Street,” Post said.
The partnership provided a solution in several ways. The town didn’t have to purchase the property and take it off tax rolls, develop the property and buy turf to turn it into fields, or pay public employees to maintain it.
“We are quite pleased to have collaborated with the private sector and used the turf that’s already growing on the farms for these fields that now promote themselves with soccer tournaments, lacrosse and rugby as well as other community groups being able to use them,” Post said.
The town leaders agreed that funding the improvements and expansion of Batavia Sports Park is well worth the money, based on the savings already seen and the benefit the complex provides to athletes and their families.
Maybe someone with the
Maybe someone with the knowledge can enlighten me on the term "for the community" and "not having to pay public employees to maintain it". Because I live right in front of these fields and alls I see going back there are public employees and town and county trucks(and sometimes after 5pm, Overtime?) and state prison vans with inmates working on this place. What exactly are the "developers" of this "community park" doing to improve it? And please let me know what "for the community" means, because I have 5 Children that try and go back on this property to practice lacrosse or just play and they get kicked out???? How is that for the community? And how is that being a friendly neighbor? If I have to put up with the extra traffic and having my view disturbed, why cant my kids go back on this property and run around and play? This was suppose to be a community park setting. Please explain where the $60,000 of our tax dollars is going. Is there any way to find out how much the turf farm makes on this venture? After all, they are public funds. I will be waiting for a response from anyone on the board in great anticipation!!!
Mike, The property being
Mike,
The property being private means that if they allow your kids to play there, and they get hurt, they can get sued. Since people will sue if their coffee is too hot, I can understand them wanting you to keep your kids on your own property.
Then I would guess that its
Then I would guess that its not a community park as they are passing it off as. And by the way...the town is footing the bill, how many kids are from the town...or are they all from the city???? Or is this the start of "One Batavia"???
It sounds like private
It sounds like private property, a private business, and getting public money. That is a separate issue than allowing your kids to play on their property.
The use of public tax money so the company can make a bigger profit is something you should address at a Town Board meeting.
The hot coffee
The hot coffee myth.
http://www.lectlaw.com/files/cur78.htm
The town also approved some
The town also approved some "in kind" services as part of their support of the Sports Park - that would explain some of the employees you see there.
just kind of wondering what
just kind of wondering what the developers were doing to their own property to develop their own property...after all..it is private property!!!