Maybe I am missing something, but I think what the Little leaguers are looking for is a piece of land so they can build fields. Unfortunately the town had a chance to buy the land that Larned owns now years ago and passed on it. I would guess that most Little Leagues do not have hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars to purchase land, so typically the municipality owns the land and the little league leases it for a dollar a year for 100 years. If I remember correctly Duanesburg Little league was given a large sum of money (100,000 or more) last year or 2 years ago to upgrade their park. I believe that money came from the county legislators when they set aside parkland money. To suggest that Duanesburg does it better and does it without government assistance is inaccurate.
As far as the idea to have Rotterdam Little league park in some other area other than within the boundaries of Rotterdam Little league- I would guess that is not allowed by Little league baseball.
Duanesburg is more rural than the town of Rotterdam, so I would guess that it would be a little easier to find 5 or 10 acres at a reasonable price in Duanesburg...
I know that some of the current town board members proposed a park with several little league fields, soccer, football, etc etc across from Rotterdam Square Mall a couple of years ago. That would have cost a fortune to complete that project, so it appears that the board is willing to spend a lot of money to build fields- the only problem is finding land.
As far as little league being political, I would venture to guess that little leaguers would accept a piece of land from anyone who could find it whether they be democrats or republicans. Unfortunately in Schenectady County everyone is trying to one-up the other guy, so it makes it hard for anything to be accomplished.
Twenty years ago the league tried to buy enough land to consolidate the ball fields. The only piece of land available was over where an old brush dump was and per the Army Corp of Engineers it would take 100,000 yards of fill to level the ground and any buildings would have to have pilings driven in to stabilize the footings as the ground would settle as the wood rotted below ground. The money the league had wasn't enough even buy the fill needed let alone develop the fields so the plan was scrapped. The Little League is also a nonprofit organization so there's a limit on how much money the league can collect or they'll be in trouble with the IRS and the state tax laws. This has been a problem for years and now the rubber is meeting the road and something has to be done.
Take a gander at this and ask about the sponsors----if you delve further into the site, there are names such as G.W. Bush Sr. and the likes.....I'm sure just as homeland security is able to shuffle the $$ down to the municipalities, these big sponsors and names could too.....there is ALOT of $$ flowing around all at loop-hole cost to those that donate.....
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
j, I just got off the phone with a member of our Little League. I wanted to make sure my info was accurate. The Little League did not receive a grant of any kind much less $100,000 or more. I believe you are thinking of the $100,000 the Town of Duanesburg received from the County Legislature to build restrooms at Shafer park a year and a half ago. (We are opening bids for the project next month) My friend from the Little League said the last grant they got was seven or eight years ago for about $15,000 to make repairs to the infield. They did all the work themselves and used the funds for material. I don't know how D'burg Little League would make out if they were faced with the same dilemma as Rotterdam is now. I don't imagine they would be able to come up with the funds required to purchase property either. I don't know how they acquired the property they have, for all I know it was government funded, just so long ago none of us know about it.
I dont see anyone raising $$ except for the candy $$ and that is a 'required donation' by parents--who can either buy the candy out right for (I think $40 or sell it for $80....I wonder what the cut is for the league, bottom up.....
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Yes, that was the money I was referring to. I thought that the county gave 100,000 or so to Duanesburg or Princetown, and I thought it went to the league. Thanks for the clarification.
the little league farm and minors have played in the old republican club triangle for years.
with the property squabble there is a need for space for (how many fields)
with the current reduction of elementary school students do you need more fields
does the field size need to change if not can the fence be reused
for that matter can the grass be reused
we will need some dugouts
we will need a concession stand with proper plumbing and electric
if a business were to go out of its way to offer land, parking, concessions, plumbing
now the plan
the out there thought is work with Maple Ski Ridge - land(yes), plumbing(yes), Parking(yes), security(yes) proper tools to assist in creation of a facility (yes)
would the town offer them a credit for the land as "non profit" fields- year round as the fencing will always be in place and parking for the months games occur and a credit for the period of time while skiing is taught to secondary school students
Maple Ski Ridge should be looked at as a "part-time educational facility" to assist in its longterm survival
no where was "handout mentioned" just credit where credit is due
such a project could turn seasonal jobs into year round employment
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