Letter to the editor: Tee-ball, Little League integral to community

My family and I have lived on Fort Belvoir for about a year and have two more years to go. So far, it has been a great experience for us. We truly feel like this is our "Town" and not just a base.

One of the best parts of living here has been the Youth Sports Little League baseball program. Our two older children play in Majors and Machine Pitch this year and our youngest daughter hopes to play Tee-ball next year. For us, Fort Belvoir Little League has been a great way to socialize with other families on the base and a great way for our children to have fun while getting some exercise.

In the May 6 issue of the Belvoir Eagle, there was a nice, big, front page article about the new child development center being built near Pence Gate. I was hoping to see some info in that article about the Tee-ball/Machine Pitch fields that are being torn out for this center and where the new ones were going to be built. But, there was no such info in this article.

I see that this year, the Tee-ball teams have had to make room for themselves in some open, grassy area near Specker Field House. But, I have been told this land cannot be used permanently because it is already slotted for other future use.

The article quotes our Installation Commander, Col. Jerry Blixt, as saying: "When it comes to taking care of Soldiers and their families, we are doing it. It is the Army Family Covenant. We believe in it. Our leadership is committed to it taking care of Soldiers, families and civilians."

I am in the Navy. But, now that we live on Fort Belvoir, my family and I believe we are now part of that "Army Family." I am very concerned about the future of youth baseball on Fort Belvoir and I hope a solution can be reached so my daughter gets the opportunity to play baseball on post next year, like all the kids who came before her.

Any info you could provide the community on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Respectfully,
Petty Officer 1st Class
Stephen A. Harriman
George Washington Village

DFMWR's response
Dear Petty Officer Harriman,
Maintaining the required number of playing fields and parks on Fort Belvoir is a top priority - we are looking at various options to ensure we provide the right number of fields, courts and parks for our Adult and Youth programs.

Currently, and until we are able to provide an equal or greater alternative in the coming years, we are playing Tee-ball in a grassy area between Specker Softball Field and Belvoir Road. Games are played Tuesdays to Thursdays from 6 to 7 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Practices are Mondays and Fridays.

Machine-Pitch games are played on Specker Softball Field. They also play games Tuesdays to Thursdays from 6 to 7:15 p.m., and Saturdays from 2:15 to 6 p.m., with practices Mondays and Fridays.
Seeing Soldiers and families this spring and into the fall, enjoying the many outdoor programs and green spaces on this installation captures our intent, and that is your well-being.
We are the Army's home.

Play Ball!

Kim Mills
NAF Support Manager
Fort Belvoir Directorate of Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation