BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2016) — Not long ago, THE PLANET spurred quite a discussion after our column of the days and plays of yesteryear (“The Battle for Pittsfield Was Lost on Its Empty Playing Fields,” May 10). The column had followed a breakfast with the slugger himself, Chuck Garivaltis.

Part of the essay dealt with THE PLANET’s traipsing through Deming Park only to discover the Little League and Babe Ruth League diamonds padlocked. We wondered who had the authority to do this? Were the locks official or rouge barriers installed by citizens who had gone beyond all presumption and claimed for their private domain public spaces meant to be used an enjoyed by all?

We had one notable exchange with a reader and one highly informative message from a city official.

THE READER SPEAKS

“Go to Deming Park on a weekday when school is out and the weather glorious. You will find no pickup games. You will, however, see two baseball diamonds — Little League and Babe Ruth League — with padlocked gates. You will find locked batting cages and a parking lot that consumes what used to be play space.”

You truly have no idea of what you are writing about. Yes the main playing fields are padlocked, but only to preserve the fields from some who may use the fields as a place to try their four-wheeling skills. There is however a practice field, a playground and plenty of open space that is open to any and all… and at any given time, the spaces are being used for practices, pick up games and some great father and son/daughter time. Not to mention the numerous pre-school programs that go the park daily during the spring, summer and fall.

The American Little League board members, parents and their volunteers spend countless hours at Deming, donating time to mow, rake and care-for space that their children and YOUR children use daily. Unless you are willing to provide some sweat into the equation, hold your thoughts to yourself. — Parent First

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THE PLANET RESPONDED

Thanks for the input. You are exactly the “person” we mentioned, you know, the “good intentions” type. THE PLANET writes about what we see, and we accurately described a walk this week through Deming. We notice you do not dispute that but rather admit it. The playing fields are padlocked. This is a public park, available for use by all. Don’t be surprised if one of these days or weeks or hours, those locks are snipped and the chains broken. You have no special rights or privileges at Deming or any other public space.

Perhaps if The Parents didn’t get out the micrometers to make the LL and BRL fields up to MLB standards, you wouldn’t have to worry so about “four-wheeling skills.” I’m sure that once in a while the other spaces at Deming find intermittent use, but be honest. It’s nothing like you describe. Except for Adult Organized Activities, Deming is mostly empty. You would be better off not spending the time as groundskeepers of Deming, pull out of LL, and just turn your kids loose to play — without you hovering overhead in your drone. As for “holding our thoughts to ourselves,” come, come. You know that will never happen. THE PLANET has too much to say and too much wisdom to impart. Keep reading!

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After this exchange, we inquired of the Pittsfield Parks Commission about the locks. Jim McGrath, the city’s program manager for parks and open spaces, responded:

Dan

 Thanks for your email about your observations of locked fields at Deming Park.

 I wanted to inquire with park commissioner Tony Demartino, as he is well connected with the ball fields at Deming (serves in leadership roles with both  LL at Deming as well as Babe Ruth League), and has been a great steward of Deming Park and the rest of our park system.

 In general, city / public fields are not locked and are accessible to anyone who wishes to use them. Though, the dugout areas at baseball fields often are locked to prevent vandalism and “undesirable use” (as many are obscured from general view).

 As Tony has confirmed, this has been and remains the practice at all youth baseball fields, to my and his knowledge. Specifically at Deming Little League field – the large vehicle access gait along the 3rd base line is NOT locked, allowing field access. There is also no barrier to access at each dugout field access. The dugouts themselves are secured.

 The Babe Ruth field at Deming has similar situations. There are 6 gate access points – one at each dugout, one walk-in gate adjacent to each dugout and one vehicle access along each baseline. The dugouts and walk-in gates are secured to minimize unrestricted access to the field. Over the past few years there have been several incidents of damaging / inappropriate use of the field (bikes especially). This damage undoes / requires many volunteer hours to address. This has been a specific concern on this field as it was newly constructed using Bossidy funds. The vehicle access gate along the 3rd baseline  – used for mowers, etc. is not routinely locked thereby allowing access. There are many times the field is used by local kids to play – many gaining access through this gate or by “hopping the fence” (safety covering on top). This use is certainly permitted as long as it is not damaging to the field.

 I hope this helps clarify the situation in question. Please let me know if you need any additional information.  Additionally, you are always welcome at park commission meetings to discuss any park concerns that you may have.

 Best, Jim

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We are relieved to know that a bunch of sandlotters could hop the fence at the South LL field, use it all day, and have the perfect right to do that. So here’s what we’re thinking. Anyone interested in joining THE PLANET at Deming Park at a day TBA (but soon) for a couple hours of fun playing ball?

We’re serious. THE PLANET always is about something as humorless as fun!

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“Sisters fled by confusion boats, mutiny by from stern to bow, ah but I was so much older then. I’m younger than that now.” — The Byrds (singing Bob Dylan), “My Back Pages.”

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

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