Stadium deserves use for multiple purposes
In response to David Hoggard's recent lament (Nov. 22) about voters not wanting to spend their tax dollars on renovating War Memorial Stadium as a limited-use facility: I grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., where I used a collection of fields at the Parade Grounds of Prospect Park to play many a ballgame, both in organized leagues as well as of the "choose-up" variety.
Why not consider preserving the front gate area of the present stadium as a memorial to those who have served, to maintain its original intent, and converting the remainder of the facility to a series of open ball fields? Just as the Parade Grounds were available to all comers, the resultant "War Memorial Park" could service both organized groups (on a reservation basis) as well as neighborhood kids just looking for a pickup game. A couple of the fields could even have a small group of stands for spectators.
Utilizing the facility in this way might well involve less expense and at the same time be a lot more beneficial to the public it is supposed to serve.
Charles Ganz
Greensboro
Comments (8)
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Sounds like a promising idea.
Though, do we really need more open ballfields? I'm aware of several in the Greensboro area that are under-utilized.
I'm not knocking the idea, though.
My impression was that the underlying purpose of renovating the stadium as set out in the bonds package was so that A&T would have a really nice facility to play on. Is that a true perspective?
If so, wouldn't it be more appropriate for the state to set money aside for A&T?
Posted on December 1, 2006 1:21 PM
I'm all for your idea nitpicker
By having the state take responsibility for the field, it relieves our local tax burden.
Since A&T is state supported, this seems pretty logical.
Posted on December 1, 2006 1:46 PM
It was supposed to be the ball field for Greensboro College, but that went by the wayside.
Posted on December 1, 2006 2:53 PM
I'm thinking that must have been a separate issue where Greensboro College was going to buy the property. It would be hard to imagine the city springing for property for Greensboro College.
Is it not true that A&T's baseball team would have played at the stadium had renovations been made? I could have swore I read that somewhere.
Posted on December 1, 2006 3:00 PM
Actually, I did a little research just now and it appears that both Greensboro College and A&T's baseball teams have been using the field. I'm not sure if they still are.
One other interesting tidbit is that the plaques memorializing dead soldiers are separated by race. Apparently, at one time the word 'Colored' was above the black soldiers who died in the war. That inscription has been knocked down but it's interesting to note that they are still listed separately to this day.
Posted on December 1, 2006 3:10 PM
If the state were to own the field, then Greensboro College could rent for practices and games.
If there is a person on the city council who went to Greensboro College, or has connections to the private college...then that may be the hold-up.
Time to through some weight around, and figure out what is going on.
Posted on December 1, 2006 4:35 PM
Looks like there may be some trade-offs going on as well.
Here is the latest on the stadium for Greensboro College
http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061114/NEWSREC0103/311140006
Posted on December 1, 2006 4:55 PM
Nit, you're right about the names on the plaques. Obviously, all Americans who have given their lives to their country deserve equal- not separate but equal- but truly equal honor. But, I think the historical reminder itself is worth keeping the plaques as they are. It's an eloquent contrast between how America was then and how it is now.
As for turning WMS into open ballfields, I'm all for it. There are people, like John Hammer, who will cry foul (pun intended) if you touch even one crumb of the crumbling concrete. John and his ilk would rather stare at crumbling buildings and scold others for letting them continue to crumble than do anything positive about it themselves. They make money on dissension.
I think we, the City of Greensboro, should offer WMS to the State of North Carolina, to be sustained as a state historical landmark and used by state education (ie, North Carolina A&T) for their purposes, recreational or convocational.
In other words, pass the buck to the state and give A&T a much needed home field.
Posted on December 1, 2006 4:58 PM