One of the best things about living away from the hubbub of a metropolitan area, whether it’s one of the smaller cities in Imperial County or the Imperial Valley as a whole, is the sense of community.
While here everyone knows, or thinks they know, everyone else’s business, here we also come to the aid of each other.
That has been exemplified time and again, whether for a neighbor who has taken ill and needs help, the overwhelming responses to tragedies and loss of life, or the need for something as ordinary as a baseball field, Imperial Valley’s citizenry has shown it has a gift of donating time, skill and funds.
The latter is the case in Holtville, where the city and residents alike recognize the need for an additional ball field to accommodate Little League players, and are doing something about it. There long has been the thought that if you involve a child in a sport or other activity involving teamwork, it not only will go a long way toward keeping them out of trouble, but it will teach life skills that will come in handy in adulthood. Other smaller cities struggling to fund activities for children have seen similar responses from generous citizens as well.
On Monday, the City Council approved a facility-use agreement between the city and the Holtville Little League organization to provide an additional baseball field within Mack Park.
Under the agreement, the league will build the field, including irrigation, lighting, turf areas and fencing, with the goal of having much of it done by the time the season starts in March. Already $50,000 worth of preparation has been done to flood and level the area. The remainder will be done in stages, a league official said.
Residents have been contributing time, money and equipment to help the field become a reality, and the city will maintain a public-private partnership with the league.
As City Manager Alexander Meyerhoff said, “That’s just how Holtville is. We help each other out.”
THE ISSUE:
Holtville building a new baseball field.
WE SAY:
Citizens’ generosity is indicative of the Valley’s mindset.
WHAT DO YOU SAY?
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