I have lived in the Saratoga-Los Gatos area for about 30 years. For the past 20 years, all four of my kids have gone to and two still attend school in Saratoga. Both Los Gatos and Saratoga have a similar problem--not enough fields for our children to play sports. We really should have been more forward-thinking 20 years ago to see this coming. I apologize for not personally paying more attention to our growing community and becoming involved sooner.

My 16-year-old son has been playing competitive soccer in Cupertino for about six years. They have Creekside, a fabulous set of fields on Miller Avenue, and several local parks with enough space for practice. As a working mom, it wasn't always easy to arrange for him to get to Cupertino, but we made it work because he loves soccer and what better alternative to being home unsupervised for many afternoons.

A lot of working families cannot drive their kids to Cupertino or Almaden Valley several times a week. I also have a 12-year-old daughter who enjoys fast-pitch softball and it isn't easy for her competitive team to find field space in Saratoga. I hope she will be able to continue to enjoy sports and have a place to play until she goes off to college.

There isn't enough field space to accommodate all of our kids. It makes me sad that we have a park to share but the neighbors frown at the thought of kids playing sports in their neighborhoods [Kevin Moran Park in Saratoga], even hiring attorneys and demanding that we not consider the park space to resolve a huge dilemma. All I can hear when I read the letters and articles from the opposition is my dad's voice when I was young--"Kids that play sports are the kids that stay out of trouble." I truly believe that. Sometimes we have to make sacrifices for the good of a community and sometimes sacrifices can be painful. I know that if I lived near Kevin Moran Park I'd be happy to share it. Really, I would. Could the neighbors around Kevin Moran Park please share it? The children of your community would really appreciate it.

Brenda Hammond

Los Gatos

Kids today need
a place to play

When I purchased my first house, there was a school nearby. That was one of the reasons I chose that house. It was a benefit that my children could walk to the neighborhood school.

On nights and weekends, the school fields were used for youth sports. That meant cars and noise. For a few years, we were part of the noise and fun. But our kids moved on, and the school and youth sports didn't. I was happy that other kids still had a place to play.

When I grew up there were abandoned orchards on either side of my street. We spent a lot of time playing there. But the orchards are all gone now. Today's kids need a place to play.

Roy Henninger

Vintner Court

City should not replace
assistant city manager

Since the library is completed, most major contracts are signed and no large public works projects loom on the horizon, why not take the opportunity to downsize and re-classify the position of assistant city manager to administrative assistant? The city could save at least $50,000 a year by doing so.

Just about everyone in this town could think of ways to spend $50,000 a year that would provide tangible benefits to the residents. It would buy a whole lot of plants for the Village, new sod for the soccer fields or maybe even a useable emergency plan. It could also help restore another crumbling street.

Stan Bogosian

Lomita Avenue