In recent debates regarding parks and recreation, various figures have been used concerning the number of city and county park users at the Wardell Leach Recreational Complex.
The figures have been based on local baseball and softball participation at the local complex. At one point, one official has stated that he was basing his estimates on race.
Park and recreation officials have also estimated that county residents make up 90 percent of the usage at the Wardell Leach Recreational Complex, but others disputed that number.
To bring clarity to the issue, The Yazoo Herald has examined the applications of the baseball and softball teams who use the local complex.
A total of 251 players use the Wardell Leach Recreational Complex for games during the baseball and softball season.
With baseball, only the Major and Minor teams use the complex. A total of 139 players make up those teams.
With softball, a total of 112 players make up the teams that play at the complex.
Of total baseball usage, 33 percent of the players are Yazoo City residents. A total of 67 percent of the players are Yazoo County residents.
Of total softball usage, 36 percent of the players are Yazoo City residents. A total of 64 percent of the players are Yazoo County residents.
Those figures strictly reflect usage from baseball and softball teams. It does not include usage from the complex’s walking trail, swimming pool, basketball court or playground areas. There is no documentation available to determine the residency of those users.
The Dixie Boys baseball teams, which include 13 to 15-year-old players, have also decided to not use the facilities of the local parks and recreation department.
The division formerly played at the John White Field. They currently play on the fields at Manchester Academy.
“They no longer play on the city fields because of the lack of maintenance,” said Nathan Burton, with the league.
Some parents said they were growing extremely frustrated with having to maintain and care for the field themselves. Many parents have even cut the grass with their own equipment at some of the fields.
Some have said the parks and recreation department loses money with teams opting to play at other fields because it eliminates the bid process of the concession stands.
Overall, many park users said they are disappointed in the lack of tournaments at the Wardell Leach Recreation Complex. They said tournaments could bring in more revenue to the community with visitors who would stay, eat and shop in Yazoo.
Based on schedules available on Grand Slam baseball and the United States Speciality Sports Association websites, there are many tournaments played in communities the same size if not smaller than Yazoo City.
