Parking proposal

Dear Editor,

The recent Gazette story about the donation of the former Elks Lodge to McCook Community College is of keen interest to me.

I extend my sincere thanks to Mr. & Mrs. Perry Case for their generosity. The building is easily large enough to have multiple uses and I would like to propose one.

For a few years a baseball and softball practice facility has been located in the 100 block on West C Street in the Deveny building. Many volunteer hours and donated funds went into locating it there and I cannot say enough good about those who were involved.

However sincere their intentions were, this facility has turned in to a night mare for businesses in this area. The MCC athletes want to park close to their practice facility and insist on using up all of the parking space for one to two blocks around on each week day afternoon. Some of my patients have disabilities and I have seen them use their canes or walkers to walk quite a distance to get to my door.

Other businesses on this street are profoundly affected by the loss of our parking during the seasons of the year when the athletes cannot practice outdoors. I propose that the practice facility be moved to the newly donated building.

Not only will the athletes be closer to the college, they will have an unlimited amount of parking and our downtown business patients, clients and customers will not have to suffer. I am a MCC Banner Club Booster and am very supportive of MCC athletics.

I understand how important a good practice facility is to these athletes and will donate $500 towards this move.

Respectfully,

Michael R. Nielsen, D.C.

McCook, Nebraska