Field of Dreams still unfinished

Another wonderful Cornfest weekend has come and gone. Congrats to all the organizers and volunteers that were involved to pull the weekend together for us to enjoy.

My wife and I also had the occasion to enjoy a softball tournament at the Ken McDonald Memorial Sports fields. It was great to be able to watch both of our kids playing softball on the same team.

I must admit that it’s been awhile since we have even been out to the “Kenny Mac.” Some great memories at the park, also some that we are not so fond of.

I had to wonder at how little has been done, in the past 15 years or so, to complete the baseball quad part of the complex. No fourth diamond, no concession change area, and nothing for shade. The grass on the playing surfaces was in great shape, but that is about all I can say that was in order.

In reference to an earlier comment in a Letter to the Editor in the Times, from Mr. Dave Paradee; and reflecting on my conversations with Dave with respect to Mr. Bill Ferguson’s legacy, I also wonder at the prospects of a new fire hall with Bill Ferguson’s name on it.

The enhanced trout pond project, complete with a parking lot, beach area, and paved pathways; seems a worthwhile project to earmark some of the funds from Mr. Ferguson’s estate. I wonder though as to how many of our Taber citizens are aware of, and would agree to, the total scope of the trout pond project?

To me personally, a scaled back trout pond project, and utilizing some of the Bill Ferguson legacy money out at the Ken McDonald Memorial Sports Park seems more in order.

I witnessed comments from town council, referring to some 2,500 trees that may find there way around the trout pond project. That’s a lot of trees.
Perhaps some of these proposed 2,500 trees could make there way out to the Ken McDonald Sports fields?

It’s been 20 years since we began the sports field project and maybe the completion of the ‘memorial sportspark’ should/could be bumped up the leader board and maybe even placed a notch above a new fire hall.

The revitalized trout pond project seems to be coming to fruition, albeit with very little public knowledge as to what is being planned. I do agree with the philosophy of “build it and they will come.” But I think we can use the same philosophy with the completion of the four ball diamond facility. Complete it and they will use it.

What would Bill Ferguson say?

BOB MILLER