On April 26, I had the opportunity to attend a Salt Lake City town meeting for District 7. This meeting was attended by Mayor Corradini, the entire City Council, neighborhood residents and several local business people.

During the meeting, a variety of questions were asked and concerns expressed. One area of interest, which was expressed by many residents and local business representatives, was the severe recreation deficit in Salt Lake City.Recreational facilities for the youth, adults and the elderly are in high demand but short in supply. After several people expressed their concern over the recreation deficit, Corradini was compelled to give those in attendance, as she put it, "a dose of reality."

She proceeded to lecture us on tight budgets, crime concerns and the poor condition of city roads. She informed us that it is not the city's responsibility to provide the residents with all their needs.

I found her reaction to this topic rather interesting. For some time city budgets have been tight, crime has been on the rise and road conditions have been poor. However, that didn't stop Franklin Quest Field from being built. It didn't stop the recreation facilities in the Glendale area from moving ahead.

I support the building of Franklin Quest Field and the recreation facilities in Glendale. I consider these as investments in our city. The residents in District 7 are asking the city to invest in the Sugar House area by helping to provide recreational facilities for our youth and residents.

No one at this meeting asked for the city to fund this alone. That was an assumption by the mayor. A joint effort from the city, county, state and the private sector will be required to make this a reality.

Those at the meeting were only asking for the consideration and help in planning from the city, not a lecture.

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The people in District 7 know and understand reality. We are the ones driving our youths to Bountiful and Cottonwood at 11:30 at night and picking them up at 1:30 in the morning so they can use their facilities at the only time they are available to us.

The "reality" is there is a critical recreational deficit in this city, and it needs attention.

Craig Bohn

Salt Lake City

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