In a 5-1 vote, the Harford County Council approved a $1.6 million purchase over the next 5 years of a property in the “village” center of Jarrettsville. The administration is currently planning to use the land for a community center, which will include rec facilities such as a basketball court.
Councilwoman Mary Ann Lisanti said that she approved the purchase for Open Space use, but thought the intended use, and cost given the economy, outside of the development envelope was bad public policy. She asked that the County Executive rethink the location of a future rec center, saying that the southern portion of the county, including Aberdeen and Edgewood, were under served. Facilities, she said, should “be where the people are.”
Councilman Chad Shrodes argued that it was a needed amenity for the northern end of the county, saying that the county had tried to find the land actually in Jarrettsville in the past and hadn’t found a seller. The location is unique, and the opportunity won’t exist again.
Council Dick Slutzky agreed with Lisanti, and Council President Billy Boniface concurred that the expenditure was a concern. He argued that the building was for existing population, not for future use. He further stated that the cost of construction for a facility would not be incurred for several years, when times should be good again.
At roll call, only councilman Jim McMahan voted against the purchase.
What a wonderful investment!! I am so glad to here that something is being done for the kids in Northern Harford County. My family is from Forest Hill but our children are very involved in sports at Jarrrettsville Rec. This is one of the few programs that are truly there in the best interest of the kids. Mrs Lasanti is wrong when she says Aberdeen is were more people would benefit from a facility. Does she not realize that Jarrettsville Rec is not just Jarrettsville residence. We have people from Street, Norrisville, Darlington, Dublin, White Hall and some from the Hickory, Forest Hill and Bel Air areas. For years our kids have had to travel to rt 40 or Perring Pkwy to have any use of an indoor facility. This also can get very costly for our program being that we have to rent the space. Not only does this land have a beautiful pond (ie Friends Park) it can be a beautiful park and rec center that is centrally located to the Northern District. This is going to benefit all of the kids, famlies and the elderly.
Didn’t North Harford just get artificial turf for the high school and rec programs to use? That gives you the nicest outdoor rec facilities around. Oh, and you guys have an indoor pool at the middle school as well? Cry me a river about having to travel to route 40, it goes both ways.
What publicly-funded indoor on Route 40 are you referring to?
Aberdeen has poor outdoor facilities and no indoor facilities outside of the schools, unlike Havre de Grace and Edgewood with their nice new activity centers.
Of course, this could be because the city government couldn’t manage their way out of a paper bag, let alone any recreational facilities. Just look at all the problems with the city-owned pool taht have been chronicled here.
Steve As past visitor to Haver De Grace’s Activity center. It’s NICE ! I was invited to sign up as senior. the weight room is free to Seniors & it’s open 7 day’s a week.
they took advantage of the property. they had available. poor planning in aberdeen
Yes, North Harford HS has a turf field. That fields is for all of the kids that attend that HS from several different towns as I stated above. The only rec program that has had rights to that field is North Harford Rec. Imagine Aberdeen and Edgewoods population shaing just two elementary schools for all of the kids. That is what we do up north. Some practices for basketball are 45 min, 1 day a week b/c of scheduling. That is rediculious! As for the pool at the middle school, would you want your kids to swim in that nasty thing! I do not know one child that like to do the swim unit for gym class. The pool is old and nasty and even when it is 5 degrees and the water is freezing, they are required to still swim. Then they go to their class in the trailers outside. I wish they could follow the other gym requirement that the rest of the county has!!!! The school itself is old and nasty. Finially, something positive is being done for the whole NH community.
I don’t understand your comment about Aberdeen and Edgewood sharing two elementary schools. As for the rest of the issues…
My point is everything you listed is not exclusive to the North Harford area. The same issues with basketball practice occurs in Havre de Grace. That’s what happens when you share one facility and have 20 teams.
Every rec program has facility issues. North Harford just got the turf field. Havre de Grace and Edgewood have new activity centers (which this new project sounds like it will be similar to). Bel Air has McFaul Activities Center, next to the MVA. It’s someone else’s turn.
North Harford High School has a turf field. That has nothing to do with Jarrettsville Rec. There is no place for the kids up here to use or the elderly. This sounds like a great thing for all of North Harford community. Unfortunately, I heard that the project wont even start for about 3 years. Wish it could be sooner!!
Also, I think what “MOM” was saying about comparing Aberdeen/Edgewood was that we have 5 or 6 towns worth of kids trying to fit into two elementary schools.
Almost impossible!!!
I happen to agree with “mom”, I grew up in Jarrettsville and I loved it, however she is right! There is no place to squeeze all of these children and this is not fair to them mostly. Aberdeen and Edgewood have plenty of places for kids to go and plenty of things to do. I think that Northern Harford county has been neglected. If we want our kids to be active and healthy we need to provide a good environment for our children and future children. You have to admit that after a long days work, coming home whipping up dinner and driving down to rt 40 to take your kids to a game after a while gets to be too much!!! In the scheme of things building this facility will greatly benefit the surrounding communities.
You have to also admit that after a long days work, coming home whipping up dinner and driving up to north harford/jarrettsville/delta/fallston to take your kids to a game after a while gets to be too much!!!
It works both ways. I often have to leave early from work in order to get my kids off the bus and get them to a game up north. I’m sure the same goes for many up north.
I understand the need for a facility up there, I really do. But I feel it’s need more in Aberdeen.