OPINION: Los Altos Softball Complex needs better upkeep

I just finished playing in the second annual Land of Enchantment Senior Softball Tournament at Los Altos.

The first tournament held last year at our brand new Los Altos Softball Complex was a huge success. The facility was inviting, the fields very well maintained and those of us from Albuquerque were so proud to finally have a first-class softball complex.

Fast forward one year. What a difference a single year can make. The second tournament was held June 24-29. Only a year later, almost all the grass in the entire complex has gone to weeds. The outfields are almost unplayable between the weeds, holes and dead spots. The infield surfaces are hard as a rock. Most days the 8 a.m. games were delayed because the fields were not lined and ready. This caused the games to be backed up all day.

Think of the impression this makes on our out-of-town teams who we hoped would return year after year to support our economy (hotels, restaurants, car rentals, tourist attractions, etc.).

I am fortunate enough to play with several traveling teams who visit various locations around the country. What is striking is how towns even smaller, dryer and hotter around the country — particularly in the Southwest — manage to maintain their fields in good order and even show improvements year after year. That has lead me and my teams to have a very positive impression of those communities and to return year after year.

I was hopeful with the opening of Los Altos last year, that Albuquerque would finally join their ranks. Instead, just one year later, I am embarrassed and somewhat ashamed of my community.

I recently read an article in the Journal where Dave Simon, Albuquerque Parks & Recreation director, boasted about Albuquerque’s $35 million commitment to new and improved park facilities around the city. That is an accomplishment of which we should be proud. However, if we can’t maintain our current facilities and provide necessary maintenance support to keep them in good order, we shouldn’t be spending millions of dollars to build new facilities.

I have lived here for 50 years and I love Albuquerque and New Mexico. However, I am saddened by our inability to compete favorably with other cities and states around the country (especially in the Southwest).

We can and must do better. I implore you to think about what it is in the culture of our city that allows us to forget so quickly a community investment like this.

Absolutely we should commit to improving our community with new facilities, but at the same time we cannot forget to commit the necessary resources to keep our current facilities in tip-top shape. Otherwise it is just money wasted.