PUBLIC HEARING RE: Appalachia Sports Complex!

**elaineswiney** · July 23rd, 2007, 07:13 AM

GREAT NEWS! A public hearing will be held on August 16, 2007 at the Town of Appalachia's Council Chambers, Main Street Appalachia @ 6:00 p.m. in reference to a new sports complex to be built in the town. All town residents are urged to attend. The sports complex plans are in design now. If all goes as planned the complex will contain the skatepark, baseball field, full size basketball court and possibly a tennis court. Feel free to leave comments on this project.

**imported_MoonlightGraham** · July 23rd, 2007, 09:50 AM

does appy have a baseball/tennis team?

i wish they would consolidate already.

**DawgFan3** · July 24th, 2007, 04:21 AM

Wish they would consolidate?? How does that have anything to do with a skate park?
And yea, Appy does have a baseball/tennis team.
I live and go to school in Appalachia and I see nothing wrong with this place. I do agree that the schools will have to conslidate soon. There us no sense in building/remodeling all of these old schools when we can build three new, state of the art schools. But I'm tired of people acting like Appalachia is a nasty, run down, scum of the earth place. It's no worse than that any other small town in Southwest Virginia. If it wasn't for Appalachia, Wise County wouldn't be here. There is at least 20 deep mines open in our area, not counting the strip mines. The coal in Appalachia provides all the jobs for you and me and it's what keeps Wise County's economy running. Most people say the coal is gone in our area, which is true for the ming methods we use. Seams run deep in our mountain that deep mining and strip mings can't get to. Soon enough, shaft ming will be used and it's very possible this place could boom again, but it's an expensive process and a totally different way to mine coal that people in our area are not familiar with. Anyways, to the point I'm trying to prove, why should people that live in the coal camps and places like Exeter and Keokee have to drive to BSG to get their kids to school when most of the parents work in Appalachia and Norton and drive by the school daily and drop their kids off? If this place booms again, which is very possible, why build a school in BSG when Appalachia will provide the jobs and such? I see it unfair that kids from the coal camps would have to drive to BSG, when BSG, in some sense is closer to Appalachia than what our coal camps are to BSG. Some may laugh at my reasoning and some may agree...just my 10 cents in on it.

**elaineswiney** · July 24th, 2007, 06:50 AM

Very Well Stated!! We need you working with us on our skatepark. You have P-zaz!

**imported_MoonlightGraham** · July 24th, 2007, 09:38 AM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If this place booms again </div></div>

Ifs a big a word to be so small.

my comments on having a baseball and tennis team were sarcasm, but I think consolidation is what is best for this county. Simply because it is what is best for the students.

I just don't see a skate park being that popular in this neck of the woods. Mainly because of the targeted individuals (13-21 year olds). And like I said in a previous post there just isn't that many kids out there that skate ( maybe 5 or 6 from each school that would use it? ) So why build a complex when @ most you will be catering to 25 ppl.

**DawgFan3** · July 24th, 2007, 10:23 AM

I agree..as I said, it needs to be done, and it will be done. I think it should be a well planned project and a fair one for all schools also. The small towns such as Appalachia, Pound, and St. Paul shouldn't be forced to go to the bigger towns such as PV, Coeburn, and Kelly...just because they are bigger towns with bigger schools. As I said, it should be done fair.

But on the subject of the skate park...I myself see no use in it. As hard to believe as it is, there are acutally a lot of kids, just in my neighborhood, that skateboard, rollerblade, and ride their little stunt bikes. Not only would kids in Appalachia benefit from it, but kids from all over Wise County could use it. As long as it's all volunteer and the materials are donated...I see no problem. I may even volunteer some of my time to help out. If it could keep the kids off the streets and out of the middle of the road and a safe place. I'm all for it.

I myself would rather see the time and money go into something else such as a new, much needed little league field instead of having to share the current field at Island Park with the softball team. Every other town has it's own, seperate little league fields. Maybe another field could help out our non-existant baseball team, too.

**elaineswiney** · July 24th, 2007, 10:44 AM

Our sports complex would consist of Skatepark, Softball or Baseball field, Basketball Court and possibly Tennis Courts, and a walking track.

**DawgFan3** · July 24th, 2007, 10:53 AM

The plans I saw consisted of only a skate park? A baseball field is needed badley. Island Park and Andover, neither have a baseball mound. Both are made for softball. I played on both fields and it's difficult for a baseball player to pitch from a flat mound and come All-Star season, the boys are pitching from an actual baseball mound and it's a huge change! Not to mention fielding a ball without grass on the infield.

**Chubzfan** · July 23rd, 2007, 09:53 AM

wast of money, give the employees of the town a raise.

**imported_MoonlightGraham** · July 23rd, 2007, 09:55 AM

speaking of which why are we building all of these skating parks?

Camp Bathel (wise) has one, there is one in pikeville (35 min west of pound). Honestly its not like there are hundreds of kids who skate on a regular basis.