In response to the commentary of Ronald Vander Bosch regarding his dismay over Greenfield Minor League fields’ appearance, I would like to respectively provide some perspective to his unfortunate misunderstanding of the situation of most youth organizers in the Franklin County Area.
The Greenfield Minor League Youth Baseball Association has for years provided boys and girls ages 6 through 13 an activity that is healthy, fun, and affordable!
While activities are becoming more and more expensive for Franklin County youth to participate in due to rising costs, the baseball association has fortunately been able to defray the individual cost of participation. It has done so by subsidizing what would amount to higher player fees with the much needed support from local businesses in various forms of advertising, such as the fence banners.
The league is thankful for all the support it receives from the community; without that support, there might not be a league for the kids to play in.
Mr. Vander Bosch asked why there is a need for the “horrendous” yellow fence topping that surrounds each field. The same fence has been surrounding the fields for more than 30 years. Some areas of the fence have begun to rust. To replace the fencing would be extremely expensive, and at this time it is not affordable for the league. The chain link portions of the fence protrude over the top edges on many sections of the fence. The yellow tubing is a necessary protective measure that prevents not only players but spectators from getting snagged, caught, cut or impaled by the edge of the fence.
The yellow color also provides a visual aid for players who are pursuing a ball to be warned so they do not run into the fence and injure themselves.
Any youth organization needs the support of its community to survive. It is also vital for any organization to work with its neighbors. Franklin County needs as many youth programs as possible to keep the kids growing in nurturing, supportive and healthy environments that can help provide them with the brightest future possible.
In the end, it is all about the kids.
Alexander V. Siano
Greenfield