I’ve lived in the hamlet of Beaver Brook, Town of Tusten, my entire life. My three siblings and I grew up utilizing the park on the flats. There used to be a youth center there; it was taken down as it was no longer safe, but never replaced due to costs.

I formed the Tusten Playground Committee, and we raised over $25,000 to replace dilapidated and hazardous equipment there. My children and my grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins have also utilized this park. Sports were played there by the National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS) teams, of which I was a part, as were my children. Many other sports, such as the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) and Little League have used the field. 

There have been talks about improvements to this park for more than half a century; some have come to fruition and others have not. There have been trials of various projects; some have been useful while others have not. Projects and improvements have always been quashed due to a lack of funding. 

I’ve never in all my years seen people up in arms over improving the TOWN park because they didn’t want more traffic, more crime, more noise, more strangers, etc. etc. What all of those are… are excuses, not reasons, and not one of them valid.  

For the residents of the Flats area: you knew the park was there when you purchased your home. If you didn’t want to live near a TOWN park that has the potential for future development and growth, then you shouldn’t have moved there. How dare you all come in and tell us—who have been paying taxes on and utilizing the park—that we are no longer wanted there because you want a quiet little neighborhood for yourselves, with no one else coming in to enjoy what their tax dollars pay for.

I live seven miles outside of town and I have used that park more than most, so when I hear some of you say that people who live in Beaver Brook or Lava don’t even use this park, I call you out, because it’s not true.  

Again, it’s an excuse. What’s really SAD in my opinion is that with the consensus of this Flats committee,  they’re missing out on so much.  Remember when the flats were absolutely bustling with children and parents from all areas of the township? When folks who lived on the flats (even folks who had grown their families and their children had flown the nest) would walk over to the field on Little League nights and cheer the children on from the bleachers and sidelines? When their grandchildren visited, would take them to the park? Who would enjoy the sound of teenagers engaged in a spirited game of basketball on the court? Who would walk around the flats and stop to chat with their neighbors from the outskirts of town? Who enjoyed the gleeful melody of a toddler spinning down the slide or a five-year-old swinging as high as they could?

You see, you’re missing out on what it means to be a community, on how to be a good neighbor, on connections with others you wouldn’t otherwise know, on knowing families and showing them kindness, the kind of families who would have your back and support and help you should you need it. 

We have lost so much of what once was an amazing community, and opposing this pavilion and youth/family activities at the park—all this will do is continue to push that further away. 

Instead of hoping the children will stay inside and play video games and be quiet, open your hearts and minds and help with the pavilion. You might be surprised that you find what your heart is missing. You might find joy, friendship, laughter and happiness. Who couldn’t use a little more of that?

Carol Ropke Nelson lives in Narrowsburg, NY.