Talk about bush league moves on the part of Middletown, this is a classic and one that I've never heard of any other towns doing.
Middletown "blacked out" field permits to all youth sports teams for tomorrow in order to encourage participation in the township's "Middletown Day".
This came as news to all the parents and kids who play youth sports over the weekend and based on the comments that I have been getting in my email and those on line at Middletown-Patch, these people aren't very happy about it; vowing not to attend Middletown Day in protest.
According to the statement issued to Middletown-Patch yesterday by Township Administrator Tony Mercantante, "The Township notified all leagues at the time field permits were being applied for, long before the fall season started, that there was a blackout day on September 29th and that fields and facilities were not going to be open.
This was done to make Middletown Day more accessible to the Township’s youth, who often in the past found it difficult to fit the festival into their schedules since sports commitments took up much of the day."
If this is true than assurances must have been given to the sports leagues at the time fields permits for the season were issued, how else do you explain the email sent out to parents of Lincroft Soccer participants who seem to have been blindsided by the news? I could be wrong, but it seems that plans were made to play :
To All Parents and Players,The following is from the Township: "All facilities are closed and a reservation block had been placed on them for Middletown Day. This is being done with the hope that families would have the opportunity to come down and participate, have their kids compete in the 3 athletic contests, and not have to run back and forth the morning of to any practices or games for any of the youth sports in town. That is why the facility permits issued have the reminder all fields are closed Middletown Day." We will have games next weekend.Kevin WilliamsLSCPresident
Regardless whether or not proper notice was given or plans were or weren't made to play youth sports games on Middletown Day, this is just another example of the arrogance that permeates throughout those that run Middletown and those that organized Middletown Day. Were they really that worried that no one would show up to the festivities and participate in celebrating the town that they felt it necessary to ban all township youth sports programs for the day?
What made them think the kids would rather come to Middletown day rather than play soccer or fall baseball just because there would be sports "games" being played at Croydon Hall? What, are there no other kids that live in Middletown,who don't participate in organized youth sports that couldn't come out and enjoy the games?
This was a bad precedent to set and oozes elitism that send the wrong signal to parents who's kids don't or can't play youth sports. It says your kids aren't good enough for Middletown, we want only those capable of playing sports entering our events.
Bush League!
