Mayor Louis Manzo thanks community, recreational sports for township involvement and maintenance
Summer is winding down and many of the youth sports groups are getting ready for their fall seasons. For many families, youth sports programs are an important aspect of a child’s formative years. This is true for reasons unrelated to the sport being played, since the greater value is in the life lessons conveyed through competition and teamwork. Logistically, family schedules often revolve around the practice and game times. For these reasons, the township has always prided itself on providing quality fields and facilities. If you’re raising kids in Harrison Township, you have access to a full complement of these programs and you’ll find the complete list on our township website (www.harrisontwp.us) under the “Community” tab.
These programs are very successful, and that is directly attributable to parents stepping up to volunteer to coach, serve as board members and lead each organization. The township provides the space and facilities in this public/private partnership, but it’s the parents who lead these organizations that make the difference. Having coached my girls in soccer and basketball years ago, I know the amount of time they dedicate to the children of Harrison Township. On behalf of the community, I want to thank and recognize all of them here. I’m sure you show your gratitude on a personal level to those connected to your kids.
Though most of us appreciate the positive impact these programs have on our daily life, many are unaware of the fiscal contribution the youth sports groups make to our community. This generally comes in the form of maintaining the publicly-owned fields and facilities. Township employees regularly cut the grass at Ella Harris Park, PVS School and the William Wilt Complex, but the groups using these fields pay for the annual fertilization and other care. They’ll also fund permanent improvements, such as lighting and fencing. This amounts to tens of thousands of dollars every year that we don’t have to spend our tax dollars on.
We thank Harrison Township Little League for their support with Ella Harris Park. They’re holding their All-Star Recognition Night on Sept. 6. Thanks to Clearview Youth Lacrosse Club, Clearview Youth Field Hockey and Clearview Youth Football & Cheerleading for their support with the PVS fields; thanks to Harrison Township Youth Basketball for their support of our local school buildings; and thanks to Harrison Soccer Club for their support with the William Wilt Complex. Soccer is staging their third annual Kickoff Classic Tournament on Aug. 25 through 27, which attracts over 100 teams from all over South Jersey. These organizations help shape our way of life in Mullica Hill and the township values their partnership in making this such a great place to raise a family.
Louis Manzo is the mayor of Harrison Township. He can be reached via email at [email protected] and online at www.harrisontwp.us.
