Our Town Square

[jd]

So no doubt many of you who have read my posts know that I have a decided bias towards girls sports here in Dunn. In fact, I have often been a bit critical of the Dunn Rec department for their tendency to spend money for the guys and not the girls. I am of course the father of a 9yr old little girl so I have more than a keen interest, and freely admit to the possibility of bias.

BUT

In the recent months, Dunn Rec took great steps to provide and improve at least one of their current softball fields and facilities. The investment was not heavy in terms of money and took only a few days to do, but the important thing is they did it, and they did it during a season in which there was no possibility to recoup the expenditure. Perhaps they did it to make people like me and the other 40 parents (sets of parents) and gaurdians and grandparents quit complaining; but again, they did it.

Now. It's time for all of us here in Dunn to take stock of the facilities that we have and the opportunities that are available.

We have a tremendous Bike / walking trail in the Dunn Erwin Trail.

There are great new facilities down at the River at the 217 Bridge.

Dunn's Tart Park (with the increase in Police surveillance) has 3 softball fields and a baseball field. It also features a wonderful kid friendly playground and some great picnic shelters (don't read the graffiti). It also has a well kept, stable, and level walking trail.

Erwin has an incredible set of re-done softball and baseball fields with a great new gym / rec center

Tyler Park has become the place to play for all the baseball teams and now has a full set of bleachers on the main field.

Dunn Rec. has some great folks (some of them are wound way to tightly) but great folks none the less. It sits in the same lot with the PK Vyas fitness center, which is absolutely amazing. Full, complete Basketball gym, a wonderful and carefully maintained Raquetball court, and indoor batting cage, an entertainment and meeting room, and a weight room. All of that is available for less than 70 cents per day (based on every day of the year--- which is a bit unfair; the number is probably closer to 87 cents for every usable day--- still a bargain--just go check it out)

So now we have the facilities and it appears that the area Rec. departments are on board, what we need now is people. The more that we use these facilities the more the Rec crews will work on them. They want you to notice, they take pride in their work and want somebody to say so.

We need you and your children to get outside and play with us! There is a team or a sport or a playground or a trail or a boat ramp for everybody. Not only is it available, but the teams that are making a go of it here are successful teams that you can be proud to be associated with. Don't believe me? keep an eye on the paper for an upcoming picture of your local travel softball team --- The Harnett County HotShots. Hopefully they'll get the picture and the story but if not ask me and I'll tell you.

Come out and play with us! for once the people who spend your money are REALLY trying to earn your business.

I am not associated with Dunn or Erwin Parks and Rec in any way other than being the parent of a child who participates in events at these facilities. I've noticed a difference and I bet you will too!
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"Sometimes the only thing fair in life is a ball hit between the 1st base line and the 3rd base line"
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[Rush2112]

I started reading this post but quit in the middle of it to post. Who have the complaints been addressed to in reference to the Parks and Recreation concerns? There is a parks and rec board that is appointed by the Dunn City Council. The contact information can be found on the City of Dunn website I believe. If it's not there, the receptionist at the rec office should be able to give you all the contacts for these people. I can tell you, there have not been a complaint of any kind sent to the members of the rec board in the last several years. I am not on that board but extremely close to a member. Again, for many many years there have been ZERO complaints. I am not begging for them to get complaints but if there are any, THEY WILL BE ADDRESSED. I promise. The only complaints I personally have ever heard was the costs. If people think Dunn is high, check out the surrounding areas. For as much as the rec dept does, the people served, the money spent, it runs like a well oiled machine.
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I refuse to participate in this recession!

[jd]

Rush
My post was meant to promote the good folks at Dunn Parks and Rec. They really do, do a good job and they also take a lot of grief that probably is not entirely deserved.
You are also right, in that the Dunn Parks and Rec BOARD have heard few if any complaints. From the girls side of things, we were resigned to the fact that we would always be less than the boys. We were in fact told that girls softball was a financial draw on the town. That is sad and explains a great deal about why we were often overlooked.
In the last few years however, several of us (myself included) have decided to "politely" mention our issues to the folks at Dunn Rec. I have no idea when the Rec. Board meets and have never had the privelege to talk with any of them. ( If I do I will tell them what a great job and wonderful turnaround we have seen ) I have always figured that if I wanted my tire patched it was better to go to the mechanic than the owner of the service station. So lately I have been going directly to Parks and Rec. when I have had a concern or noticed anything that I thought needed their attention.
In the last 2 years their response times have gone down dramatically, and if my concern was not do-able or financially improbable then I was told so politely and with reason.
Because of the recent hard work by the guys at Parks and Rec. I am now one of their biggest champions. It really is improving all the time. Don't believe me, we just signed up nearly 45 young ladies for ONE age division in Softball! and most of them are from OUT OF TOWN! Hopefully we are beginning to earn our keep like the boys.

So please tell your friends on the board that they and the entire staff ARE doing a great job. Tell them to call the guys at the office and tell them that people are noticing and bragging on them. Tell them to thank those guys and ladies for improving the facilities and for handling the issues BEFORE they arise at some ugly complaint-fest at a Board Meeting. Please invite them, on my behalf, to come out and watch any of the girls play softball (Dunn was 3rd in the STATE last year!!!) or the boys play baseball. If they do make sure they introduce themselves to the coaches, so the coaches can put a face and name together.

There are still issues, some paper trail type stuff, and some ongoing maintenance, but we (the parents and coaches, and the Rec. staff) are working on it. I am looking forward to a GREAT season and hope you and all of the board can catch a game or two.
We really do have great facilities now (as I said in my first post) and they are getting better all the time.
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"Sometimes the only thing fair in life is a ball hit between the 1st base line and the 3rd base line"
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[Rush2112]

Great post and points well taken. I will pass the kind words along where they need to be delivered. For some reason, and I cannot explain why the little league field at Tyler has always received strong attention. Maybe because that park is smaller so it's singled out. I don't know. There are more areas to throw money into over at Tart so things done over there may not be noticed as much. It seems like every couple of years or so the girls field gets alot of attention. It may be the years that we have big tournaments coming, I don't know. I used to volunteer at both parks cleaning and cutting grass. Sometimes I spent so many days in one week at Tart and still couldn't tell I did anything where as when I worked at Tyler, the results were immediate. Anyway It's good to see the participant numbers up and hope ya'll have a great season!
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I refuse to participate in this recession!

[jd]

There is a BIG NCUSFA Softball tournament coming up in April. 24th and 25th I believe. They are bringing in several teams in age divisions from 8-18 and playing (tenatively) in Dunn and Erwin.

Y'all come watch 'em play!
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"Sometimes the only thing fair in life is a ball hit between the 1st base line and the 3rd base line"
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