The Truth about M.S. High v. M.S. Parks & Rec

 

What one could reasonably call a battle has been raging since late last summer between Muscle Shoals High (specifically the new baseball coach) and the Parks & Recreation Department. What are the salient facts? Here's an expert rundown on the specifics:

The City has 16 ballfields, only two that meet state regulation for high school baseball, one at airport complex and one at Gattman park, the school uses both of these fields everyday. Softball uses multiple fields everyday and hosts tournaments on at least six of these yearly.

My reputable and trustworthy source also says they have never heard of such an actual discussion of a private field at all. Muscle Shoals school system is currently pushing hard for a turf field (cost well over a million and a half for one field plus the maintenance cost that comes along with it) for only themselves to be able to use. Muscle Shoals school system does not currently even pay for the water they use to water the fields now nor do they pay or provide for the expensive materials (Diamond Dry, drags etc.). The Parks and Rec/City pays for these necessary things. 

Of course the cost of a turf field is not in a Parks and Rec budget and unlike the wealthy Tuscumbia residents and Deshler affiliates that came together to pay for their turf field, all these unknowledgeable mouthy people so eager to make a comment are not going to do that. Unlike some of these readers' comments that are making the Parks and Rec director out to be, he is not a cold hearted person and actually has always loved his job and working with kids.

It has never been like this in the past between the school and rec. Mayor Bradford would never have let them continue to act this way. The parks and rec director would love to have all turf fields for ALL children to play on, the kids playing through the recreation program AND the school athletic program, for EVERY KID. 

As for Beck being made out to be a God verses Ass. If you know anything about the city of Muscle Shoals, if you don’t agree with everything they say and go against them then you become the outcast and on their hit list. The people that are “behind coach” and making him out to be a God are your people that are already affiliated with the baseball team/work at the school or have younger boys coming up so these people are kissing ass in hopes their kids make his team and play. The others are speaking on Beck's true colors. 

And as for the parks and rec director's supporters, the majority of them will not post on a social media site. He has received numerous texts, calls and in person positive feedback since the original post. The majority know what kind of person Rusty truly is and the work he does. 

The crazy thing is everyone thinks they know how and when the parks and rec director should be doing his job and when. He does work, that honestly as a director, he doesn't have to do but he does anyway. He works literally 24/7. They don’t see his early morning hours and very late hours plus weekends he puts in, tournaments at multiple complexes at the same time, rec gym events til late, he runs the amphitheatre, he runs the golf course, he runs the pool not to mention his phone rings nonstop all hours of every day. He has been in his Director's position for about 19 years and has worked for the City- Parks and Rec combined for over 25 years and since he was named Director he has never had a comparable raise for ALL the additions to his job description since then. 

Yes the city had their “Auburn study” but didn’t even truly go by that. The parks and Rec, and the street department got the shaft. It was said “the parks and rec and street department were not important” and not worthy of this full deserving Auburn study raise. They veered from that Auburn study after they were told not too.

And from another reader:

I remember what you are talking about with that coach Beck. It is a war zone. He wants to take over the Park & Rec ball fields and lock them up. More of the school system's greedy mentality of "It's mine and you can't come here". To further that stance, the high school recently locked the bathrooms at the tennis courts at the games. Top that off with Chad Holden is pressing (and will probably go before the county commission) to get some of the internet sales tax money of theirs in addition to what he is getting.

Readers in the City of Muscle Shoals need to pay attention specifically to that last take on the "Turf War."