Youth baseball solution critical

Before coming to conclusions about what will or will not happen if the proposed Little League ballparks are built, let’s assess the information coming from the city, the Little League and the neighborhoods themselves.

Much has been speculated and misrepresented about these proposals, but here is what we know: According to the city, nothing is decided except to look into the proposals’ feasibility. According to some in those neighborhoods, the ballparks will cause traffic and pollution issues. And, according to League proponents, it will allow these kids to play in first-class ballparks in their own neighborhoods.

League officials have long maintained that there were not enough suitable fields for our kids to play on. Now, there are nearly 3,000 kids playing in Spokane County, with 147 teams playing in the North/Mead and South Leagues alone.

In an era where children are more sedentary than ever – and health hazards more pronounced – it’s great to see this level of participation in a sporting activity. While I’m sure that the neighborhoods’ concerns merit serious consideration, let’s get proposals from each of the involved groups and work together to reach an agreement that appeals to everyone. Let’s keep these kids active and playing baseball.

Joseph Miller

Spokane