Editor, The Spotlight:
There has been much written and discussed with regard to Niskayuna’s proposed indoor sports facility. As the Town’s youth programs continue to grow the proposed facility would offer more space for practice.
This past fall our daughter played on the modified field hockey team and did not play a single home game because the fields were in unplayable condition. Practices were very often on the tennis courts. An indoor facility would have been valuable to the team, especially for practice. Our son plays for the Niskayuna Soccer Club. He has lost several teammates to premier clubs in the last two year because their parents wanted more than one practice a week on a gym floor. The Club often competes against premier teams that practice up to 4 times a week on turf.
I believe firmly children involved in sports is valuable. It establishes good physical fitness for children, team building and sportsmanship. As a parent of children who participate and have participated in both the lacrosse and soccer clubs, both have taught excellent examples of sportsmanship.
I ask that all residents of the town think about the children of our town and the offerings an indoor facility could provide to sports programs, summer playground camps and much more. This facility can benefit all residents at a cost that will be subsidized by the teams. As someone who grew up in Niskayuna, I wish I had the options of youth programming currently offered today when I was a child.
Sara Risseeuw Erickson
Niskayuna
