Everyone should have access to fields

If you're looking for a quiet place where nobody will bother you there are acres upon acres of deserted ball fields in your neighborhood.

But don't bring a glove, ball or friend or you might get arrested. It's true. Park and school districts have cooperated to seal off access. Drug dealing and gang activities no longer have to compete for preeminence as America' favorite pastime.

To use their precious turf you need reservations, insurance and big bucks for fees. Otherwise forget attempting to engage in anything baseballish.

I'm sure the powers that be would contend that a kid could skin a knee sliding into second, then sue the community for millions and win. They are absolutely right, but they also have no incentive to work around the issue. That's a sad thing when Michelle is trying to get them to shed a few pounds.

What message does this send to youngsters looking for something to do on a summer day? Does it matter that they see baseball fields everywhere; all with signs forbidding their use?

Does it matter that they receive such mixed signals from the adult community?

Some are recent arrivals. Their cousins back home play all they want on rockstrewn fields. Here the fields are as perfectly manicured as they are empty.

Bob McDonnell

Schaumburg