It has been 10 years since former Blytheville Chickasaw pitcher Joel Huffman fired the first fastball at the Blytheville Youth Sportsplex; then seven days later, that former Chickasaw cleanup hitter John Blair cranked the facility's first home run.
After playing their first 12 games on the road, the Chicks christened the Sportsplex with a 6-2 win over Forrest City on April 2, 2002. The opening of the Sportsplex generated a lot of enthusiasm.
That day, John Rose, then chairman of the city Baseball Facilities Board, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the ball game. It's fitting that Huffman and Rose had the first pitches.
Joel's father, Mike Huffman, and Rose were both instrumental in laying the groundwork for the Sportsplex. Certainly they weren't alone in those efforts, but Huffman, Rose, Gale Wilf, Mark Overman and John Singleton were among those who labored for years so Blytheville could have the world-class facility it does today.
Ten years later guys like Wilf, Kenny Burge, Randy Scott, groundskeeper Larry Morris and countless volunteers are instrumental in hundreds of local baseball and softball participants continuing to be able to play on some of the best fields in the state of Arkansas.
Since 2002, local children from ages 4 to 19 have been enjoying the Sportsplex and fans have savored the atmosphere.
Participation has grown each year. In 2002 BBSB had approximately 450 participants. The number swelled to 684 by 2007 and the figure was 719 in 2011.
The Sportsplex has been one of the taxpayers' best investments. There's very little buyer's remorse over the initial 1/4-cent tax that built the complex, at least concerning the Blytheville Youth Sportsplex.
Hopefully, city officials will use a fair portion of the 1/4-cent tax parks and recreation tax money to keep the facility in immaculate condition.
I say hopefully, because there are a lot of hands reaching for the parks and recreation money.
The 1/4-cent tax generated $56,827.34 in January, according to the city collector's report.
If that figure holds true, the tax will generate $681,928 in a 12-month period.
If Thunder Bayou continues to generate $200,000-$300,000 a year (depending on who you believe) less than its debts, then a big chunk of parks and recreation funds will go to the golf course. Undoubtedly, the golf course will continue to drain city funds through the tax or the general fund.
There is no disputing that the golf course is the biggest parks and recreation expense. And it seems to be among the least used by local citizens. Compare the Sportsplex parking lots on game night with Thunder Bayou's during the peak golf season.
I get it that the golf course can be an economic development tool to help lure industry and businesses here, and it draws in a handful of visitors who might not otherwise take one of the two Blytheville exits.
I also understand when they eat here or shop locally, those tax dollars help pay for the facility, at least to some degree.
But when voters made the tax permanent in 2007, they had maintaining the Sportsplex and local parks projects in mind, not the golf course. The original bond issue that built the golf course barely passed with a 54 percent majority on Oct. 18, 2000.
And most of the credit is due to the Blytheville Youth Sportsplex, which was cleverly lumped in with the project on the cluttered ballot.
The other four projects approved at the same time were: the Animal Shelter (71 percent), Public Works Maintenance facility (64 percent), the Municipal Airport hangar project (58 percent) and the Heritage Center (57 percent). According to an old newspaper article, the new course was to be part of recreational complex that included a youth sports facility, camping and fishing facilities and a walking trail.
Along with the new 1/4-cent tax for the projects, at the same time Blytheville voters rededicated a 1/4-cent tax to fund a $3.8 million sewer expansion for annexed areas.
If given a mulligan, I wonder if they would have approved the $3-$4 million golf course that swallows up the biggest chunk of the parks and recreation pie. Chances are they wouldn't, unless the Sportsplex was dependent on its passage.
Moving forward, one of the biggest mistakes the City Council could make is under-funding the Blytheville Youth Sportsplex.
The local parks also need major attention. Walker Park is in desperate need of playground equipment and the pond needs to be drained, cleaned and aerated to avoid the annual summer fish kills. The park lacks adequate restroom facilities. There are plenty of needs for all the local parks, as well as with the Missco Football League, for that matter. The Delta Gateway Museum deserves a small slice of the pie as well.
Since it's obvious the city won't be shutting down the golf course, why not limit Thunder Bayou to $100,000 above what it takes in? Surely a properly run course could be self-sustaining with its usual receipts ($330,000 last year) and another $100,000 from the parks and recreation tax.
If figures hold true, that would leave close to $600,000 parks and recreation dollars to split between the rest of the parks system.
With proper oversight, that should be sufficient and eliminate the current strain on the General Fund.
mbrasfield@blythevillecourier.com