Dear Editor:

In the Kevin Costner movie, Field of Dreams, which is based on W.P. Kinsella's book Shoeless Joe, there is a scene where Iowa farmer, Ray Kinsella (played by Kevin Costner), hears a voice coming from his corn field that repeatedly whispers, "If you build, they will come." And after consulting his conscience and tracking down a reclusive activist author to help him sort out the mystery behind the eerie messages, Ray decides to take tractor to field and create a baseball field. 

Such was the premise of one of my favorite movies and, if you will bear with me, parallels events that have been occurring in town lately, culminating Saturday morning at the corner of Pond Meadow and Bethke Roads. Only in this version, it wasn't the ghosts of Shoeless Joe Jackson and seven other White Sox baseball players that walked out of a corn field with mitts and baseball equipment in hand to play ball, but instead fifty to seventy-five inquisitive Killingworth residents who walked out from the trees lining that two acre parcel of land with mitts of their own (to keep their hands warm) and questions and opinions about the dream to create a baseball field.

As the meeting began I stood by and listened to Mr. Eric Auer as he, Mr. John Himmelman of the Killingworth Land Conservation Trust and two other gentlemen, whose names I do not remember and for which I apologize, explained to us their reasons for getting involved in a project to turn the vacant lot into a baseball field for little league use. I came to the meeting open minded hoping to gain some insight as to how the idea originated and what the next steps in the process would be. Here's what I found out and what I think we should do - for what it's worth.

Mr. Auer told us that the Killingworth Land Conservation Trust was planning on turning the deed to the land over to the town, so that he and any volunteers who wanted to could help him grade the new field, erect a fence and backstop around its perimeter, and thin out an area adjacent to the field to park a dozen or so cars, so that the field could be used for little league baseball games. Mr. Auer told us no other structures would be built and that a number of environmental tests were already done and so far everything came up fine. Mr. Himmelman told us that the Killingworth Land Conservation Trust thought long about giving land back to the town that it was entrusted to preserve as open space pursuant to their charter and mission. He said (and I am paraphrasing) that the Killingworth Land Conservation Trust thought such a gesture was within their purview as long as the transaction was for the common good of the entire Town of Killingworth. I also heard that the idea of putting a baseball field on the site was still just a proposal at this time and that further debate would take place with the ultimate decision being made by the Killingworth Board of Selectmen, none one of whom, I believe, were present at the meeting.

 OK I admit it, I have a vested interest in this project, because I am a resident of Jacob Lane, which is no more than a quarter of a mile from the site and because I have also been a girl's softball coach for the last few years in the Killingworth Youth League, so I can appreciate my neighbors' concerns on the proposal with respect to the potential increase in the town's liability and the neighborhood's increased traffic and litter, as well as the town's desperate need to create more recreational space for all of us, especially our children.

As I stood there at home-plate of the proposed field, I appreciated the fact that one of my neighbors, Mr. Jonathan Page, took the lead to organize the meeting, so that an understanding of the project could be heard and that a free expression of ideas and opinions could be shared. I liked that Mr. Auer and others took the time to tell us about their intent, rationale and scope of the project. And I also liked that there was a large number of "teammates" who came out of the woods to gain an understanding of the project and to toss their own ideas back and forth in this game of pitch and catch.

Unfortunately, there was also a great deal I did not like. I did not like that Mr. Auer was interrupted numerous times as he tried to explain the ground rules of his plan and that he was made the brunt and the target of several knockdown pitches from those opposed to the plan. I also did not like those who spoke of us residents of Jacob Lane, as if we were the dreaded Yankees and that we high-priced residents in our BMWs were to blame for all the high speed traffic on Pond Meadow and Bethke Roads.  I also did not like the personal, bean-ball comments someone in favor of the project threw head high toward a friend of mine who was merely giving his opinion as to the possible issues associated with the project. But more than all of that, what really bothered me the most was how the Killingworth Land Conservation Trust would give away a parcel of land, when they felt it was in the town's best interests to do so. Every time I donated money to them I thought I was doing so, because they were dedicated to the preservation of open space in the town. I thought every time land was entrusted to them, whether by an individual directly or by the town when the land was obtained by regulation that that land was to remain just as was given to them – untouched forever. While Mr. Himmelman said their actions were for the town's good, it should be pointed out that it is not for the entire town's good, but only those of us who have children who will make use of the field. To me that well intentioned gesture is in direct contradiction to their charter as well as a violation in spirit to those resident contributors who may not have children using the proposed field and who have donated their money or land with the idea that the land their contributions helped purchase or the land they willing gave would remain unspoiled. I was also bothered by the potential parking issues that could result if the field were to put on the proposed site. The plan as I understand it is to provide a dozen or so parking spaces within 25-50 feet of the third base line. Maybe I am a little paranoid, but I do not think I would park my car that close to the field for fear of it getting hit by a batted foul ball or an overthrow toward third base. I would rather take my chances parking on Pond Meadow or Bethke Roads and I imagine that many others would do the same thing. So imagine if you will what it might be like when one game is still being played while other players and their families are looking for a place to park their own cars to deliver their sons and watch the ensuing game. Do you remember the lines of approaching cars driving up to Ray's Iowa farm to watch the games on his field of dreams at the end of the movie? I think the possible increase in traffic would create a greater risk for accidents. I'm sure we would all be extra careful to watch for on coming traffic and be more on the lookout for children running to and from the field between those parked cars, but the fact is accidents do happen and the potential liability that may ensue to the town (and all of us as taxpayers), if the town were named a party to a lawsuit for an accident involving or caused by cars parked illegally on Pond Meadow or Bethke Roads would increase, to say nothing of what might happen if a pedestrian were hit by a passing car. 

Look, we had a chance to do the right thing with the Bosco property and we did not step up to the plate. Well Mr. Auer's proposed project and generosity also includes a plan to help build a couple of soccer fields on the Bosco site, which prompted another neighbor of mine, to recommend that we think about building the baseball field along with those two soccer fields at the Bosco site too. That's a good idea and, if acted upon, would help us solve our short term needs as well as be part of a long term strategy to have one, larger recreational complex for all of the residents of Killingworth to use someday when we feel the time is right to expand the layout, so fathers and sons, and mothers and daughters can have that game of catch with one another on our own field of dreams, just like Ray Kinsella did with his dad.

John Martindale
March 1, 2005