Park And Rec’s Fair Share

To the Editor,

I read in the Danbury News Times that our first selectman, Mr. Herb Rosenthal, has recommended a one million dollar reduction in the Parks and Recreation budget request. While Mr Rosenthal continues to give lip service to the needs of Newtown regarding upgrading and adding to its recreational facilities. The reality is, Mr. Rosenthal continues to recommend budget cuts to Park and Recreation Department that will make it almost impossible to maintain the facilities that already exist in town. How are they suppose to add facilities that everyone, except for Mr. Rosenthal, knows the town needs.

Many of the playing fields that are used for soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse and Pop Warner football are in such poor shape that they are dangerous to play on. The fields at the high school are so bad that many youth coaches will not use them fearing injury to their players. Mr. Rosenthal has stated on several occasions that he does not want additional playing fields at Fairfield Hills if the town purchases the property from the State of CT. Well, the vast majority of people I have talked to believe that this is the most logical place to build additional fields. They do not understand his position on this subject. I urge every supporter of youth soccer, lacrosse, football, baseball, softball and basketball as well as members of the adult leagues to make your voices heard so that Mr. Rosenthal and the members of the Legislative Council actually give the citizens of Newtown what they want, not what our politicians think we need.

I believe that we must give our children safe places to play sports and participate in other recreational activities. I am not saying that other areas of the budget should be cut to give more dollars to the recreational budget. I just believe that it is time the Parks and Recreation Dept gets its fair share.

Judson Doyle

Board Member

Newtown Soccer Club

46 Horseshoe Ridge Road, Sandy Hook February 3, 2000