You need only come out to the football field on a cool Friday night in the fall to see how the community comes together to support our youth sports programs; or come to the elementary school any spring Saturday where you can watch boys and girls from age 5 – 14 playing baseball and softball, and more importantly, learning valuable life lessons about sportsmanship, perseverance, and fair play.

It’s time for us to come together as a community, roll up our sleeves and work together to complete the steps that will open the San Juan Community Fields, and get the first field ready for play.

Ask any coach of youth sports in the community and they will tell you, our existing sports fields are inadequate and as a result of our overloading their use, they are all in dangerous disrepair.

We have consistently had over 300 kids involved in youth baseball and softball, and more than 250 kids involved in youth soccer, and there are simply not enough fields to go around. The quality of our existing fields limit the ability to host home games and as a result, we miss the opportunity to showcase our community and bring additional valuable visitors to help boost our economy.

A first class sports fields facility will bring additional visitors to our community, and more visitors means a stronger local economy.

In addition to traditional sports fields, once completed, the complex will include a mile of walking trails, a family picnic area and a new children’s playground.

It is time to set aside any biases or personality conflicts we might have had regarding the fields and recognize that we are within striking distance of completing a first class community asset, which once completed, will positively impact nearly every child and adult in our community. The San Juan Community Fields will be an asset that we can all be proud of.

Please come out to the community fundraiser on April 21 at the fairgrounds and show your support for this great cause.

Brian Brown/Laurie Wangenheim

San Juan Island