To the 150 or so West End neighborhood residents who recently showed up to vent their frustrations about a BATTING CAGE constructed at Larry O’Connell Field on Chebucto Road: ARE YOU F**KING SERIOUS?
The first time I drove by I remember thinking how I would have given ANYTHING to have a batting cage in my neighborhood growing up. These are probably the same people who turn around and moan and complain about “today’s youth” and their lack of worthwhile pursuits… Explain to me again what’s the problem with a bunch of kids playing a great game, enjoying the outdoors, and learning important life skills like teamwork and sportsmanship?
It’s not a needle exchange for Chrissake! GET A GRIP and pick a real problem to solve. —The (un)Quiet American
This article appears in May 13-19, 2010.
yeah, I noticed it quite quickly as well… it’s pretty sweet if you as me.
just a matter of time before it’s covered in advertising though…
or some kid climbs up and nosedives off of it like mick foley ala King of the Ring ’98
is this cage open to anyone to use!? if so awesome!
Is there such a thing as a quiet American??
As someone who worked in Recreation for another municipality – if there was a community group out these willing to build a piece of equipment, for the kids in our community, we would be all over that. Forget friggin’ “public consultation” bullshit. If it’s a multi-use park, and there’s enough interest to get the $ to build it from a private source, then we would bend over backwards. And then celebrate it like the huge success it is to add one more piece of infrastructure to our community.
Parks & Rec Depts should be able to ADD infrastructure without this silly backlash. Jesus Christ, give paid employees some due! Some of them actually want to improve the community – and these people arguing over something like this just shows what a selfish meddlesome group joe public can be.
I hope it gets used, and often. It’ll be a great asset.
Oh, and contrary to popular belief most – if not every – park has a masterplan. They’re alwasy evolving, and shouldn’t require input at every stage or NOTHING would get accomplished.
Yeah, bitching about a batting cage in a park, one that is used for baseball, no less, is about the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard in my life.
Bravo – How many of these parents and locals biggest contribution to their kids lives has been the Sony Playstation that they got for them last Christmas.
Batting cage + Kids = Brilliant
NIMBY’s types are the scum of the earth as far as I’m concerned they’re usually bleeding heart liberals who are for everything for everybody blah blah blah. But God forbid you put these facilities in THEIR communities no no no than it’s someone elses problem die nimby die !
what did the residents want to have built there? i don’t get it
As a resident in the immediate area of the park, I was happy to see it go up. My only thought was that I hope I could use it, too. the people complaining are the folks in pretty nice homes who pay too much in taxes and are feeling like their “concerns” aren’t being heard. Most of the people on those adjacent streets are 40+ empty-nesters, who probably have dogs that use that park.
I’m always happy to see the kids using it. Plus, it doesnt affect park access any more than usual.
Yeah, I had kid-haters protest the basketball hoop I had put in for the kids in the area (as a reward for cleaning up the entire neighbourhood). Funny how they could find the time to protest about kids having fun (noise), but they couldn’t find the time to help clean up their area when asked.
Kim, if any of that negativity is true then that is just sad.
good on ya for helping the community out though.
I fully agree with ralmn on this one; too much consultation leads to NIMBY syndrome. A batting cage is actually a good thing, and people don’t want it around because it could detract from their property values. The city should do more of this, just put the shit up.
These are the same people that have issues with you putting up a clothesline in your own backyard because they don’t like their kids seeing underwear.
I’m going to use it to get ready for the next hockey season.
NGF’s going all happy gilmore over there… I have to see that!
My plot is to get some kids thinking they can do it, try it out and get slugged with balls themselves.
yep nothing funnier than a kid getting beaned in the melon with a baseball yea baby 🙂
ah, such is life, don’t you just love it.
A crazed weasel should be jammed up the colon of anyone who would complain about kids being active in a constructive way. What a fucking bunch of uberknobs.
Looks like the batting cage is for private use only and is not open to the general public. Any of you have different opinions now?
I would still not oppose to the development itself. Also, if it is funded by a private party on a private property, there is nothing anyone can say about this batting cage being for private use only. However, if it is built on a public property with public money, it should not be for private use only.
There’s an interesting piece about it in the Chronicle this morning – Broc has it right
well, that certainly changes my perspective. it’s for private use only and on public land…it is locked up, not much fun there
I smell an impromptu hell in the cell match this coming weekend.
certainly not mine of course… but I’m thinking it is inevitable.
and I totally want to set up that putting green idea somewhere… whatcha think that would put me back?
Doesn’t much matter. For every yout’ that uses it, there will be half a dozen trashing it with spray paint and baseball bats. And if apprehended their sole reponse to parents and police will be…”We were bored. there’s nuthin to do.”
Maybe when it’s not being used as a batting cage they could lock the SGR bums in it and poke them with sticks?