Youth Sports

(Matt Teague) 

 Some of the good stuff to come out of Belmont in recent years have been the development of baseball players who choose to try their hand in the professional ranks.

The local papers do a pretty good job keeping up with the baseball players.

We hope that they would keep up with some of the other outstanding students as well.

The Belmont Front Porch would like to hear about how some of the community’s children have progressed since their high school days. Send us your stories — it is ok to brag a bit here on the front porch, especially on a holiday weekend.

If you are looking for money for your community project, there is a program called, My Hometown Helper sponsored by General Mills Corporation.

Currently, no projects have been submitted from either Belmont or Mt. Holly community groups.

With all the groups selling wrapping paper and candy bars, it seems that some would be interested in applying for funding. The grant requests can be up to $15,000.

Of course, the Gastonia Police Department submitted a request for fitness equipment. Go figure, they get free food at most restaurants and convenient stores, reduced rates at the area fitness clubs, and are allowed to drive with cell phones attached to their ears — and now they NEED fitness equipment.

(Lower Tennis Courts at Davis Park) 

Last night, well, late last night, we were sitting on The Front Porch, and some of kid’s friends were talking about the Belmont Skatepark that was discussed more than a couple of years ago. Yes, in the 77 degree, 11:30 PM nighttime heat.

Anyway, the teens were asking about what happened. We explained to them that the city council had approved a bond referendum to designate funds for the skatepark construction. One young man, said, “in my lifetime?”, “yes” was the response. The original location was supposed to be the lower tennis courts at Davis Park, who knows now what the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee will do…

$115,000 of the proposed $12 million dollar Parks and Recreation Bond package will be directed to this project. Not in time for one of the best skaters in Belmont though, Phillip Nguyen.

The space is a great place to put a park such as this. We hope that it will be dedicated to Phillip.