YORKTON - It is a Saturday afternoon – 3 p.m. -- in late August, the sun is shining, the temperature is warm – but not excessively so. The breeze is moderate, just enough to cool the sweat of exertion.
It should be the sort of day people get up off their couches and venture outside for some fun.
That was the thinking as an intrepid reporter climbed in his vehicle and headed out to find some long weekend activity photos for this week’s edition.
The tennis courts were a first stop – empty.
Next were visits to two parks with pickleball courts. They were empty as was nearby playground equipment.
Two soccer pitches were likewise without game action.
The football field was empty.
Baseball diamonds sat silent.
Sunday saw one park with youngsters on apparatus.
The situation is one which makes one wonder about recreation moving forward.
If a near perfect Saturday afternoon in August doesn’t fill outdoor recreation facilities what will.
Yes it is understandable baseball is complete for the year, and soccer and football operates to a schedule – but what about impromptu gatherings of friends heading out to play some ball?
Has that sort of gathering been lost to the youth of today crawling into a chair before a computer screen to meet ‘cyber friends’ for online gaming?
While online gaming has its own questions in regards to face-to-face socialization skills and the health concerns of sedentary recreation – it also leaves the question regarding recreation infrastructure for municipalities into the future.
For example, if youth are chair bound with a game controller in hand, will they ever pick up a set of golf clubs and take to the links?
Locally we certainly must hope so with a municipal investment of more than $7 million in a golf course clubhouse that will be used for decades ahead.
Will youth hockey numbers hold, or will more and more youth opt for online sports?
We increasingly hear about the tightening of budgets in the face of ever increasing living costs, so is a computer console a better option to hockey gear and travel?
Locally numbers need to hold in the sense the city is embarking on a multi-million dollar upgrade to the Kinsmen Arena.
Certainly when you look back over recent years there remains interest in recreational facility additions in the city.
Requests before Council have included a request for a dedicated basketball facility, the need for a practice football field, and a bike pump track.
Each request had merits – but then there are all the empty parks on a fine August Saturday, and one wonders whether the big screen TV now reigns supreme in terms of recreation.
