THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 28, 1996 TAG: 9604260201
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 09 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
Consider Little League for Lake Ridge parcel
The schematic and article on the front page of the March 31 Metro News section of The Virginian-Pilot barely mentioned the Little League proposal for baseball and softball fields on part of the Lake Ridge property (officially known as the Princess Anne Corridor). Yet, the leaders of Green Run Little League have submitted formal proposals to the City Council, with accompanying testimony, in each of the last six years. The mayor has stated her strong support as well as three other council members, but no formal action has been taken.
Little League baseball and softball isn't just about six and seven inning games for kids, it's about thousands of families engaged in solid community-building activities. The Green Run Little League has been operating for 20 years, but has now outgrown its area near Green Run High School originally designed for playing baseball and softball.
The actual name of ``Green Run'' Little League is no longer accurate since most of the league consists of families from all over Virginia Beach. The 54 teams comprise baseball for boys ages 5 to 18, softball for girls also for ages 5 to 18 and baseball for the handicapped for ages 5 to 21. The 16 to 18 age groups for boys and girls have to play on fields in Norfolk because of the overcrowding situation. The baseball and softball programs are played nine months a year covering spring, summer and fall. The number of children in the league has doubled over the last 10 years, and Green Run will be faced with turning away people in the future if this land cannot be used for Little League.
Compounding all of this is the physical limitation problem. The Green Run ball fields are literally sandwiched between housing developments with attendant safety problems of kids running across streets for foul balls, as well as causing severe parking shortages in the surrounding neighborhoods. Field lighting is not allowed due to local restrictions. All that is needed is 25 to 30 acres of land for the development of seven ball fields in the Princess Anne Corridor. If the Green Run Little League can use this land, the volunteer parent organization will do everything else that is required for field construction.
Make no mistake, a lot of money is required to make Little League happen. The operating budget to play ball each year is about $100,000 with total income and expenses far exceeding that amount. But, the taxpayer will not have to pay for any of this. In fact, additional revenue will be brought to Virginia Beach through the many visitors to the district and state tournaments that will be held at these fields.
Howie Lind
April 5 by CNB