The following comments have been collected by the Mad River Recreation District board from local lacrosse and soccer families about the Mad River Valley Recreation District’s efforts to purchase the recreation fields at Mad River Park.
The value of sports fields to this community invaluably contributes to the quality of life, health of our children, increased community and relationship of children and families, property values and many, many other virtuous benefits that are woven into the fabric of this valley. The Kingsbury family have been gracious and generous patrons and provided and maintained the fields. Most involved with youth sports organizations understood that this was a possibility; the Kingsbury's deserve our thanks and it is now time to pull together to maintain this valuable asset. Having served on the board of the MRV Youth Lacrosse I have firsthand knowledge of organizing and parental inconvenience, discontent and cost with having to travel to Waterbury for practices. At the time I understand that currently there are few acceptable alternatives. We tried this for several years with the fifth and sixth boys’ teams and the postseason feedback was not positive. One effect was we lost some kids from lacrosse participation – and that's the long-term threat. Without access to field assets I would fear and predict that participation would drop and there would be a loss by an unknown percentage of the litany of positives listed above.
I support responsibly procuring the fields and saving the asset for future generations.
Brendan Gilhuly, Warren
As a parent of children that have played both soccer and lacrosse at these fields I believe it would be a mistake in the long term to let the offer presented by the Kingsburys pass by. We have the opportunity thanks to the generosity of the Kingsburys to purchase fields at less than fair market value that are ready to play on and will include a parking lot adding even more value. We are a community that plays outside and these fields are part of who we are and why we raise our children here.
Scott Aiken, Moretown
My kids have graduated from college, but Mad River Soccer was an integral part of our family life. And without access to the Mad River Park fields the program would not have been possible. Both my boys played at the college level and without the foundation at a young age they likely would not have pursued the sport as far as they did. Soccer gave them focus and structure and gave them a path to their college education. I coached a U12 boys’ team this spring and you can see the same passion and focus from most of the kids. There was controversy this spring about kids hanging at the bridge. Activities like soccer and access to a place like Mad River Park is part of the solution for so many issues along those lines. Sports are great building blocks for life and we need to have fields to play the sports. It's a small price for such a high return.
Stan Woliner, Waitsfield
We moved to The Valley two years ago specifically to live and raise our three young children in this warm, enriching community. In choosing to relocate here, we knew we’d likely enjoy many wonderful outdoor activities as a family. The elementary school, by many accounts, had a great reputation. Indeed, we’ve been so impressed with the school and really do enjoy living here. However, there are many aspects of community that engage and enrich the children within it and athletics is key among them. It is important to us that our children have the opportunity to play on teams and learn the many great life lessons that come from doing so, not to mention the benefits of encouraging healthy lifelong physical habits. Though we recognize and appreciate the inherent constraints on a rural community with respect to resource allocation, we’d like you to consider the potential return on investment in athletic facilities. Surely, providing space for The Valley’s youth to recreate, learn and grow will reap benefits to the families who live here and attract others to consider settling here too. Simply put, offering field sports to our kids – on decent facilities – makes the community more attractive to families, which helps ensure ongoing economic sustainability and vitality.
Andrea and Matt Cox, Waitsfield
Mad River Park is where the place I fell in love with soccer. It was always a sanctuary where I could forget about everything other than myself and the soccer ball.
Ethan Riddell, captain Harwood Union High School soccer team. Class of 2017
