Saratoga News Editorial How things were, and how they are Saratoga seems like the kind of place where children ought to play sandlot baseball during the spring. The kind of place where young people should be able to earn a few bucks picking prunes and cutting 'cots during the summer. Saratoga seems like the kind of place where school administrators might wait to find out whether the fruit crop is early or late before determining the opening date of school. Saratoga seems like it should be this kind of place. But the truth is, houses long ago replaced the orchards, and youngsters are less likely to play sandlot baseball than they are to join organized teams. In spite of the fact that Saratoga isn't exactly what it once was, residents and elected officials have tried hard to preserve what remains of the city's rural beginnings and small-town sense of community. But what suited families generations ago may not suit families today. In his remarks at the Saratoga City Council meeting last week, newly elected councilman Nick Streit pointed out that for the first time in many years, there are parents of young children serving on the council. That parents of young children may have a different perspective than others in the community is a point well taken. And it is a fact that this is a perspective that has not been particularly well represented in recent years. Those who would like to think it's healthier for youngsters to play sandlot baseball than to participate in organized teams, for instance, are probably not inclined to be enthusiastic about the city's efforts to build playfields on one of three sites in Saratoga. People who'd rather leave things alone and not encourage noise and traffic are the ones who've been heard from so far at playfield meetings over the past few months. But now a group of residents in the vicinity of Marshall Lane School has endorsed the idea of playing fields--complete with restrooms and a concession stand-- right in their neighborhood. Are these people crazy? More likely, they're people who have children who need a place to play in the organized sports that are in vogue today. The youth population is growing by leaps and bounds in Saratoga. No one knows that better than school administrators who are trying to stay one jump ahead of the increasing school population. As much as Saratogans like to cling to the past, the time has come for the community to consider seriously how best to serve the needs of its growing population of young people. [ Back to Contents Page | Saratoga News Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Saratoga News, December 9, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.