Angry golfers argued with stressed coaches of youth sports as 200 people debated March 4 what belongs in a future park along Raphel Road in Kingsville.

"Golf!" the majority said.

The at-times rowdy crowd was there to tell the county Department of Recreation and Parks what they wanted on the 112 acres of the former Gunpowder Falls Golf Course.

"How many times do you want me to write golf on the list?" said a frustrated Robert Barrett, director of the rec agency, who wrote suggestions on a large tablet.

The official repeatedly told the gathering he had no power to restore golfing to the location because it was a decision of the independent county Revenue Authority to close the operation at the end of 2008 due to $250,000 in annual operating losses.

Although ill-feeling between golf and recreation factions dominated the first half of the meeting, several later speakers called for fair-minded people from both groups to form a committee.

"There's a way to work this out for everybody in this community," said Bill Paulshock, of Perry Hall.

The Revenue Authority closed the unprofitable course after being approached by staff of County Executive Jim Smith, who saw broader recreational potential for the site. Golf course land would be added to the adjoining 28-acre Schmidt property acquired in 2007 for the proposed park, officials said.

But according to many speakers at the meeting, the golf course, acquired by the Revenue Authority in 2004, never got a chance to build an audience.

"Greystone (a Revenue Authority golf course in Cockeysville) has all kinds of promotions, but Gunpowder never got any," one man said.

Several speakers said they'd gladly pay more to golf there.

"And what does it cost to run a recreation center?" a man asked, referring to rec leaders' pleas for a new building on the property.

The recreation department does not expect to make a profit for its services, Barrett said.

After listening to gripes from golfers for a half-hour, Barrett gave the floor to youth recreation leaders, who talked about their needs.

Judy Sibol, a leader of the Kingsville rec council, said children who want to play organized sports are turned away for lack of indoor and outdoor basketball and soccer courts.

Shawne O'Connor and Paul Muller, chairpersons of girls and boys basketball respectively for the rec council, said an indoor facility should have nets that can be raised and lowered for various ages of basketball players.

The rec council now pays to rent courts in Churchville, Harford County, and other locations when they cannot get free space at Honeygo Park, they said.

"And there's not one full-size regulation lacrosse field in the area," according to one speaker.

A new community building should also have rooms for dance, gymnastics, roller skating and large meetings such as that night's event, others said.

Jennifer Mayfield, president of the White Marsh rec council, said the group would donate funds to develop the new park, an offer also made by the Kingsville rec council.

Barrett said that no county funds are currently budgeted to work on the project.

Opponents to a large regional park at the location included the Greater Kingsville Civic Association and residents from the Raphel Road neighborhood.

Leigh Keller, association president, said that preserving the rural character of Kingsville -- and continuing the use of wells and septic systems versus public water and sewer -- was the group's No. 1 priority.

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user comments (1)

user misteeta says...

There is room on the 26 acre former Schmidt property to put a multi use building and two fielda for lacrosse and soccer. The overwhelming majority of those who attended the meeting agreed that Kingsvilles's rec needs and the golfers could be accomodated. If the course were marketed properly it could sustain itself. The Revenue Authority did a lousy job of marketing. They replaced the marketing group last November. Bud Herb

Posted 2:07 PM, 03.11.09

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