To: William Barber, Director Binghamton City Parks & Recreation

Director Barber: Make Safety a Priority in Binghamton Girls' Softball

Softball in the City of Binghamton isn't what it used to be! When I was a kid, east side home games were played at Button Field at Fairview Park. Now the boys' little league games are primarily held there while the girls' softball games are played on a substandard, unsafe field behind the one used by the boys.

Why is this important?

I'm a parent of a child playing Junior Softball with the City of Binghamton Parks & Recreation. Before her season started, the following notice was posted on the Binghamton East Side Youth Association Website indicating the potential for injury.

Attention Parents:
We need your help!!! The city of Binghamton has decided to add an inch of topsoil plus grass on the infield of the upper softball field at Fairview park. This has greatly effected the field making the field almost unplayable on. We have fought hard to get this softball field and is one of the few that remain in the City of Binghamton. The addition of this topsoil has made the field a potential safety hazard for anyone playing on it. The same thing was done to the softball field in west end but the city has since changed the field back to normal. We need all of the parents to contact the city let let them know that you are unhappy about this change at Fairview. Let them know you are concerned about the safety of your children playing on this field. You can contact the Parks and Recreation Director (Bill Barber) by telephone at 772-7017. He can be contacted by email at the following link: http://www.binghamton-ny.gov/node/330

Appropriate attention to this matter has not been provided and, as a result, one of my child's teammates suffered an injury in their game last evening at this field. Please encourage Director Barber to pay equal attention to boys' and girls' sporting events and to take steps to ensure the safety of our girls.