Neosho has a crown jewel in Morse Park and its park system.

It’s unfortunate that some citizens, who think vandalism is an art form, don’t feel the same as I do.

And as the father of two young children, I also have a vested interest in the current and future success of our city’s sports programs.

Athletics can help teach young children about teamwork, responsibility, benefits of exercise, and also how to win and lose gracefully.

While the City of Neosho’s sports programs are adequate, there is room for improvement, and Tee Potter, the city’s sports program coordinator, agrees.

Potter spoke to the Neosho Rotary Club Wednesday about the sports programs the city offers, and her vision for future improvements to the programs and the facilities.

One major interest is the city’s soccer program and facility.

According to information provided by Potter, the city had 905 participants from grades kindergarten through 12 between the fall 2007 and spring 2008 seasons.

At least 630 games were scheduled between both seasons on five fields.

There is no question interest is high in soccer here in Neosho, and that begs the question — can the city do more to invest in the facilities?

Right now, the parking lot is gravel and has several dips and valleys. The goals are in need of new nets, and more fields may be needed considering the amount of games scheduled.

Potter, in her report to the club, said future improvements she has recommended to the city are to pave the parking lot, add a drinking fountain on the grounds, install two new bleachers, add picnic tables and consider another layout for the fields to make room for two more fields for games and practices.

There is already work scheduled at the soccer park, Potter said. The city is in the process of getting ready to pour concrete pads around the concession stand with an awning at the window. Also, Potter said the city would be bringing in dirt to build up the fields and goal ends.

This is great news, but I would also like to see the city consider purchasing new goals for the soccer fields, as some of become rusted and possibly dangerous.

The youth baseball and softball programs run by the city of Neosho is also of major interest to folks here in Neosho.

Potter told the club 918 players took part in the league this summer, and 235 of those were in the T-ball leagues.

The fields saw 475 scheduled games on two baseball fields, two softball fields and one T-ball field.

One of Potter’s main missions during the off-season from baseball is to get the league sanctioned as a Babe Ruth organization.

According to its Web site, www.baberuthleague.org, the Babe Ruth League serves over 1 million players from ages 4-18 in Babe Ruth Baseball, Cal Ripken Baseball, and Babe Ruth Softball.

The move to Babe Ruth baseball and softball would be welcomed considering the Neosho leagues are independent of any affiliation. Being a part of the Babe Ruth league would make umpires go through the league training, and umpires could register with the National Umpire Association. Becoming a member of that organization can open the door to umpire Babe Ruth tournaments and the Babe Ruth World Series, according to the Web site.

The quality of umpires and scorekeepers this year has been an issue, something Potter thinks the move to becoming a Babe Ruth league member could help fix.

Also, the Babe Ruth league offers an insurance policy option for the city.

Potter also shared a list of future improvements for the ballfields she has recommended to the city. Those improvements include paving the parking lot, building new dugouts for Wicks Field, where the Neosho Lady Wildcats play their games, adding a new T-ball field, making a softball field tournament regulation size, and repair fencing.

I would also recommend making sure a staff member in charge is at the park at all times during games to answer questions, help solve disputes, ensure the safety of players and fans when severe weather pops up, and determine game cancellations.

The success of the City of Neosho Sports Department is vital to the success of the city and its relationship with the public. Hundreds of children, and their parents,
grandparents and other loved ones, participate and watch the activities put on by this department, and that is what makes the success of these leagues so important. The sports department also offers basketball, volleyball and skate competitions, with the latter two being new. For adults, the city puts on spring, summer and fall softball leagues, a basketball league and would like to add a volleyball league.

If you would like to get involved in improvement the city’s sports programs, or share your thoughts on items that need to be address, the number to the Neosho Rec-Plex is 451-8090 or address the city’s parks and recreations board at its next meeting.

It was great to see Potter share a vision for the future of our city’s sports programs.

If some, or all, of these improvements that Potter outlined during the meeting can be made in the near future, the city — and the children playing these sports — will benefit in the end.

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Rick Rogers is the publisher of the Neosho Daily News. E-mail him at rrogers@neoshodailynews.com.