Stark Truth: Raising Red Flag About Possible Lions Park Changes
June 23rd, 2008 by cstarkIt’s no secret that the city of Bremerton is strongly
considering getting rid of the two adult softball fields at Lions
Park, which sits along the waterfront in East Bremerton off of Lebo
Boulevard.
Parks director Wyn Birkenthal said the city would be interested in
replacing those fields with two 300-foot diamonds with lights at
school district property where the former East High/Bremerton
Junior High sits. The Bremerton School District, city of Bremerton,
Olympic College, Public Facilities District and other groups have
been represented at meetings discussing the possibility of building
a sports complex on that site while keeping the gym, auxiliary gym
and perhaps a few classrooms.
It’s a joint-project that makes sense, but does removing two fields
at Lions Park make sense? Those fields also double as youth
baseball fields.
What do the citizens of Bremerton gain by getting rid of the
softball fields? More picnic areas? The shoreline facility already
has several picnic benches and park benches, a walking trail that’s
used throughout the day, a boat launch and large waterfront dick,
two restrooms area and 150 parking spaces? OK, part of the asphalt
parking lot is on some prime waterfront property, but that’s not
all bad. You can’t build condos down there? Well, I’m sure somebody
would love to try, but that would never fly.
Will more people use Lions Park if they get rid of the softball
fields? I think that is the question that needs to be
addressed.
It’s a useage issue. What can you add to that existing 15-acre park
that would make it more popular than it currently is?
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
June 24th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
I hope the baseball fields aren’t taken out..but a bicycle racing track and a hired bike racing trainer could give lessons.
Sharon O’Hara