HomeMy WebLinkAbout030425 email - turf fieldALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Dear Jefferson County Commissioners:
We are Manaseh Lanphear Ramirez and Dillon Page Castillo, athletes at Port Townsend High School.. There are very few activities for the youth to do in Port Townsend that are open to
everyone, which is why we are reaching out. We believe that having a good field that is open to the public would be really beneficial for athletes in the Port Townsend area. It would
also benefit non-athletes by providing the opportunity to learn how to play sports and meet new people. We know that recreational leagues create strong bonds between community members
who wouldn’t normally spend time together.
Our principal, Sean Moss, told us that the YMCA has an idea of creating an indoor field at the YMCA. However, there are some concerns about what would happen to the basketball court
and the pool if the field were built indoors and what effects that would have on the YMCA as a whole. If the YMCA’s goal is to build a field for the betterment of the community, wouldn’t
Memorial be the place to do that? Currently, Memorial Field is a muddy, grass field, but it does have lights. Although it is owned by the county, it would really benefit from being
upgraded to turf.
We think the county and the YMCA should collaborate to make Memorial Field a turf field open to the public. Without having to worry about the health of the grass, the county would no
longer be forced to close the field to preserve it. A turf field would be expensive, but it would minimize the cost of maintenance and greatly reduce the strain of activities on the
field.
A collaboration to upgrade Memorial Field would benefit the YMCA and Jefferson County residents by giving the Jefferson County Adult Recreational Soccer program the ability to play more
often and on better fields. More athletic culture can only help the community and connect back to the YMCA's mission, “We're an inclusive organization of all kinds of people with a
shared commitment to nurture the potential of youth, promote healthy living, and foster social responsibility” and to the Jefferson County mission “To preserve and enhance the quality
of life in Jefferson County by promoting a vibrant economy, sound communities, and a healthy environment.” Both of these goals can be fostered through the renovation of Memorial Field.
While a collaboration between the county and the YMCA might be outside the box, we believe that in a small community with limited resources, we need to think creatively to accomplish
big things. We hope you will consider our idea. What impact do you want to leave behind for the future generations?
Thank you
Manaseh Lanphear Ramirez
Dillon Page Castillo