Build year-round sports facility

To the editor:

I agree that Jack Roeder's Prospect Meadows is a worthwhile project, but it misses the point of our area's needs.

We have more than six months of unfavorable weather in Cedar Rapids and having more outdoor athletic fields doesn't meet the majority of our youths' needs.

One of the best examples of the right project is the Eastern Iowa Sports Facility at Monticello. It was the idea of Bud and Georgia Johnson. It's a year-round indoor softball, baseball, soccer and other youth activities facility. Our youth could benefit greatly by having an indoor, 12-month facility that would give them more opportunity to engage in sports during the fall, winter and spring, but would give our student athletes an opportunity to develop their skills.

Roeder has been a tremendous leader in our area baseball teams for many years, but wouldn't it make sense to double the time our young athletes have to practice and play all year-round?

Dennis Burrier

Cedar Rapids