Sports park funds vetoed; Work continues on regional athletic facility

By Patty Brant

December 5, 2007

http://www.newszap.com/articles/2007/12/06/fl/labelle/cb05.txt

It wasn’t the news residents wanted to hear, but U.S. Congressman Tim Mahoney nD, District 16 still managed to leave them with a positive feeling Saturday, Dec. 1. Residents had hoped federal funding for the planned LaBelle Sports Park, to be located on Forrey Road, might be forthcoming, but the Congressman had bad news to relay. In spite of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Conference Report approval, by both the House and the Senate, President Bush vetoed it, as he said he would. Mr. Bush vetoed the bill because he felt it was too costly. Among other projects, the bill would have provided $300,000 for the LaBelle Sports Park.

The announcement did not deter supporters from commitment to their project, a 55-acre regional sports park that is to include facilities for soccer, football, baseball, skateboarding and a community swimming pool.

Folks gathered at the site of the park and Rick Bass, President of the LaBelle Youth Athletics organization spearheading the new sports park, provided an overview of the project as they waited for the Congressman to arrive.

The project was conceived by a group of men interested in providing a good local venue for healthy youth sports activities. Some ten months ago, the plan was announced. Since then the survey work has been accomplished and permitting is now under way. At the same time, the group is seeking funding and fine tuning the design. Mr. Bass said commencement of the construction phase will depend on local participation and donations.

Mr. Bass said he and his group began this project because they all remembered how being a part of organized sports helped them grow and mature. They want to ensure that same courage, respect and responsibility instilled in them through sports will be passed on to younger generations. He noted that the 55-acre site is “ideal” for this use. In addition to being an attractive area people will want to come to, it is conveniently located to be accessible to folks from both coasts as well as all of Hendry and Glades counties. Supporters envision this park as a magnet for sports events and tournaments.

Hendry County Director of Special Projects Ron Zimmerly said the park will serve as an economic engine, revving up the local economy. As people from all over Southwest Florida come for events the money they spend at the park as well as for food, accommodations and other items will trickle through the community.

Mayor Paul Puletti explained how and why the city embraced this project. “We want to make our wildest dreams come true,” he said of the city’s future.

The property is owned by the City of LaBelle, which donated the site for the park. The city has also leased 17.85 acres of the current site to the county, which in turn has provided assistance in obtaining grant monies for the park. Two Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program (FRDAP) grants for $200,000 each are currently in the works. Mr. Zimmerly said the applications look promising at this time, but the tale won’t be told until after the Legislative session.

This site is actually only a small piece of the total parcel. The city-owned property totals 220 acres n all of which could eventually be included in the park. The entire site is bordered by SR 80 on the north, Cowboy Way on the south, Collingswood to the east and Forrey Ave. to the west.

A number of young skateboard enthusiasts were at the park site, waiting to meet the Congressman. Steven Figueroa, a senior at LHS, Steven Helms, a ninth grader, and Jonathan Whidden, LHS sophomore, came to thank Congressman Mahoney for his efforts. The boys are serious about their sport, but there is nowhere in the LaBelle area where they are allowed to skateboard. Keenly aware of the negative perception the community has of them, they are looking forward to a nice skateboard facility one day and hope to see an organized skateboarding club. Currently, skateboarders using private or public parking areas and sidewalks feel they are “targeted” by law enforcement and even arrested.

Recreation Director Phill Pelletier said there is a concrete slab at the new soccer park going up by LaBelle Elementary School that the skateboarders can use and he plans to have a ramp there in about six months. He’s currently working on the possibility of getting some unused skateboard equipment from the Seminole Tribe to provide a place for local skateboarders.

Congressman Mahoney told the crowd he was proud to request funding for the park in the federal budget and was successful in the House, as well as the Senate, with the help of Sen. Bill Nelson. He regretted the President’s decision to veto the bill because he feels the money belongs to the people.

He said the park is important to its kids n it will help create the community. He added that he was disappointed at the veto but is not done fighting yet. He said the park will be built if the community wants it. He asked residents to write letters or send e-mails to Sen. Martinez and Nelson letting them know how important the project is to the community and asking them to continue their efforts for the LaBelle Sports Complex.

For more information, go to www.labelleyouthathletics.com