One voice has been found to represent 160,000 Montgomery County residents who swim, lift weights, play ball or even kayak. It says — beef up the county’s recreation programs.
The Sports Council of Montgomery County meets with the county council today to seek funding for the startup group to improve recreation facilities, attract sporting events, create a volunteer database and even raise funds.
It’s a grass roots effort to help government help its citizens. Plant a little seed money and watch the panel, whose membership ranges from soccer to basketball to swimming, grow into a self-sustaining organization capable of building a Strathmore concert hall funded by its arts committee counterpart.
“We have no interest in becoming a government arm,” said Tom Young, a sports council official and owner of the Maryland Nighthawks, a minor league basketball team. “This gives us an ability to advocate that will grow when people see what we can do. The numbers are huge. This is an enormously powerful voice.”
From toddlers to seniors, the sports council wants to expand programs rather than suffer dwindling funds taken whenever something else seems more important. Panel members realized they were being outlobbied for funding so a few dozen organizations have already banded with nearly 1,000 leagues expected to eventually join.
Individual leagues requesting money separately would often face rejection. Together, the sports council has already gained a $40,000 commitment from a county council subcommittee it hopes will nearly double when meeting with the full committee.
When a road race needs volunteers,a database could e-mail requests for help. When a coming youth soccer tournament fills hotel rooms from Frederick to Tyson’s Corner during Memorial Day weekend, the sports council can help manage the event. When the ACC men’s soccer tournament comes to Germantown in November, the panel can bolster attendance.
How about an indoor facility similar to the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro or a minor league baseball team like the one coming to Waldorf next year? What about partnering with public schools for more athletic activities when some students spend as little as 35 minutes weekly in physical education? Maybe some of the 500-plus ballfields controlled by the county recreation department could be better landscaped?
And here’s a real scary thought — Montgomery County will have 220,000 senior citizens in 2020. What will they do for recreation when most programs are geared for youth sports?
“We can’t leave it all up to the government to do,” said Trish Heffelfinger, Maryland Soccer Foundation executive director and sports council official. “Once we shine a light on the issue the support will come rolling in.”
Think of all the money along I-270 the sports council could raise that is currently unreachable by the government? Redskins owner Dan Snyder and Nationals co-owner Mark Lerner are Montgomery County residents who could be lobbied. There is plenty of help available, but the present setup can’t gain it. The council would provide a lifeline between private and public ventures.
There is much, much to do and a county government seemingly too overwhelmed to handle any more. That’s why the sports council is desperately needed. The county council can’t miss this golden opportunity for volunteers to help manage the burden.
“Do you realize with the power of the people in this county, even if we got 10 percent of the [160,000] participants, to get things done,” Young said. “It’s for the greater good. For a county of this magnitude, size and wealth not to have this kind of voice is a bit surprising.”
Rick Snider has covered local sports for 28 years. Contact him at [email protected].
