Recently the Decatur Park District voted to close the Nelson Park Golf Course – Decatur’s oldest golf course.  Budget issues, lack of player interest, and maintenance issues were the reasons given for the closure.  However, it’s no secret that community leaders have been eying Nelson Park for a while for possible commercial and residential development.  Many residents are worried that their input will fall on deaf ears; they have good reason to feel that way.

Thousands protested the closure of Stephen Decatur High School; it closed anyway.  Hundreds of residents, on the north end of town, protested the Target development, which required the demolition of Mound Middle School and Sunnyside School;  the schools were torn down and replaced with a department store and other retail establishments.  Many were opposed to the expensive West Main improvements; they happened anyway.   Granted, it’s hard to find 100% agreement amongst voters, but when it’s obvious the vast majority of Decatur’s residents oppose a particular action by either our city council or park district, our elected officials should stop and listen.  They may learn something. That’s what representative government is all about.  Yes, there’s times when our elected officials have to approve unpopular things – like tax hikes, initiatives related to public safety, etc.; however, if the Letters to the Editor, in the Herald & Review, are any indication, few if any residents supported the total closure of the Nelson Park golf course.  Just as many are worried about possible development that will consume the entire park.

The Park District has stated the land will remain mowed and accessible to the public.  My question:  how is this going to save money for the Park District (us taxpayers) ?  The costs to mow so much land has to be considerable.  In the end, could it be possible that we’ll lose even more money by closing the golf course?   At least while it remained open to golfers, it brought in revenue.

At least voters will have some say in the fate of Nelson Park.  Because of state and U.S. Department of Interior restrictions, the land cannot be sold without a referendum.  I’m interested in possibilites for the site; I’d just like to be part of the decision process – like the rest of Decatur’s residents, whether or not we are elected officials, developers, or just lowly voters.

Yesterday, as I descended my front porch stairs, I was greeted with the best smell in the world – thawing dirt, the smell of Spring!  Life.  Renewal.  Hope.  Optimism.  Purpose.  Reward.  Spring!  There’s a chance of snow tonight, but I’ll put that out of my mind.  Spring is coming!  The backyard looks like a bomb shell landed on it.  That’s how it normally looks this time of year.  Broken branches litter the lawn.  Bare spots will need to be reseeded.  The fence around the garden is leaning, rusting and falling apart.  My new dog has chewed all my flower pots.  The brick patio needs replaced.  So many things to do.

I spend most of my day scouring the Internet for job opportunities.  Nothing, in my field within a 50 mile radius.  I’m contemplating taking a trip to Raleigh, North Carolina and see what they have to offer.  I wasn’t aware of it, but Raleigh has a lot of tech jobs – graphic arts stuff.  I’ve found quite a few job opportunities there, but the thought of moving scares the socks off of me.  I’ve never lived anywhere else but Decatur.  I’m holding off as long as I can, but the next few months will be telling.

My husband is trying to build up his lawn mowing business.  His job will be ending at Caterpillar in April.  Many families in Decatur are going through the same thing we are.  The community is doing what it can to help, but there’s really only so much they can do.  I find the job and interviewing tips seminars a bit pointless.  My resume could be printed on gold leaf paper, written like a Shakespearean play, with words flowing, rhythmical, and inspiring enough to melt the heart inside of a stone statue, but what good is it, if there’s no jobs to apply for?  It’s hard to keep the chin(s) up, but there’s something about Spring that offers just a little bit of hope, and puts life back into perspective.  There’s plenty to be thankful for.  My kids still get excited during thunderstorms and love to play in the rain.  I can pretty much count on watching deer munching away on the softball field across from my house each evening.  They look back at me, not quite sure what to think, but go back to their eating.  Big fat bunny rabbits hop across the lawn, and soon will be sawing off my tulips!  It’s the only time of year I’d consider eating bunny stew. The birds still sing up above me.  “What, they haven’t heard about the recession?”

My son's pet bird watches happily over the thawing soil!

The Decatur Park District has suggested that closing all or a portion of the Nelson Golf Course may be necessary due to funding problems.  According to the numbers, the Nelson Course isn’t bringing in enough money to justify staying open; however when I look at the numbers, it isn’t just Nelson losing money.

In 2007 Nelson lost $82,895; in 2008 it lost $37,411

Scovill lost $1,808 in 2007 but came ahead  $50,014 in 2008.

Red Tail Run lost $76,692 in 2007; in 2008 it lost $141,063

The Hickory Point Golf Course is the only course to have made money in both 2007 and 2008.

(Source:  http://www.decatur-parks.org/golf/documents/ERADecatur2409.pdf; pages 27-29)

So if we take a look at those numbers, the Nelson Golf Course isn’t the biggest loser; Red Tail Run is.  Actually, far less money is spent maintaining the Nelson Golf Course than all the others.  For example, the expenses for the Scovill Golf Course in 2008 were $1,202,554; expenses for Hickory Point in 2008 were $1,067,504; expenses for the Nelson Golf Course in 2008 were $323,249.  It doesn’t seem like we’re comparing apples to apples here.  Obviously if the park district is investing three times more money into both the Scovill and Hickory Point golf courses, they would undoubtedly have better facilities to attract golfers.

Another thing to consider about the Hickory Point golf course is that its’ golfers are more than likely spending their money at Forsyth’s restaurants and hotels, not Decatur’s.  We have to consider the economic advantages to having a golf course actually located within the center of Decatur, where golfers will be spending their money.   If we add in the sales taxes from nearby restaurants to the Nelson Golf Course, Nelson may actually be bringing in more money to Decatur than some of the other courses.

If the park district has plans for the Nelson Park Golf Course, than I’d like to hear them.   Speak to us like adults and don’t try to sway our opinions with fancy accounting tricks.  What do you want to do with Nelson Park?  I have a feeling condos are part of the equation.