Indoor Recreational Space

Your plan for expansion of the current indoor facilities has been greatly needed for some time. I’m glad it is coming to fruit. But I have to question about the staffing of new facilities. In my experiences new programs are often highly staffed when they first appear, but as time progresses staffing is often the first thing to get cut. The lowered staff levels are often required to maintain the same number of offered programs. The result of this being the loss of good personnel as they transition into less stressful positions and ultimately a lowering of overall quality and service as those positions are back-filled by entry level employees, if back-filled at all. I’ll use Adventure Training as an example since I’m familiar with the program. At the height of staffing for AT there was five Trainers which simply weren’t enough to handle all the events we were being required to perform. At one point I had built up almost 60 hours of comp time and out of that year the only vacation time I took was two weeks when my son was born. Last I heard there are only three Adventure trainers now and they often have to deny services due to the fact that they are spread way to thin. Do to the nature of their work being short handed also causes safety issues. Motorized equipment, unskilled riders, and a lack of control personnel is not a good combination. Parks and Recreation has been running into the same problem for years. I’ve seen the multitudes of missed phone calls, lines out the door, and I’ve heard the complaints. It’s not that they’re ignoring the phone, believe me. When even at full staff you can’t keep up with demand on peak days, there’s a staffing problem. And that front end equipment they’re using? When I can buy better front end equipment and software from Walmart, that just adds to the problem. I can’t help but commend the staff in those programs for being able to accomplish as much as they do with the little they’ve got. I can only hope they're getting paid for their time. I know back when I was working there, the over/comp time tap would get turned off and we'd begrudgingly joke about the "MWR donation hours" we were working.

In short, when these new facilities come about, please make sure they are staffed to make efficient use of them and not become a burden on already strained resources.

This is perfect, but I am not sure what this will look like inside? Will this have the capability of converging into an indoor skating complex? Will it take the shape of the something similar at the local YMCA Fairgrounds? While an indoor recreation facility is an incredible addition, we should consider what sport or sports it will accommodate.

Also, since we are so close to the Canadian border I would consider an Ice Rink. Why? I am a huge hockey fan...I would hope that most of us here would agree because to some degree, we decided to be here.

The thread related to indoor activities is near to my heart. The Arts and Crafts Center is an amazing place where individuals can work with wood, pottery, clay, framing, class, sewing and more. There are artists that come in and teach classes for free. They recently added a section for children to do crafts in an area that is safe from the fumes from the kilns. The facility is far under used, quite possibly because the community is simply not aware of all that can be done there and the professional equipment available to them. As a staff member of the WTU and local resident I have come to rely on the Arts & Craft Center to keep myself and my soldiers busy during winter months. This is one of the coldest darkest posts during winter and I find it incomprehensible that the center closes at such an early hour and that it is not open on Sundays. While stationed at Ft. Greely Alaska I found the center to be a true refuge from the elements and partially responsible for my ability to complete my tour without incident of depression. I have submitted ICE comments requesting the center be opened on Sunday and for later hours which resulted in an extra hour during the week (would be nice to have it open till 2100). When speaking with the facility director I was told the only one who can authorize the change to open on Sunday is the Garrison Commander who I am trying to get an audience with now. The thing I hear most from the WTU soldiers and users of the facility is that the hours are not conducive to working individuals. I have been stationed at 6 posts and this is the first center I’ve found with such hours. If you enjoy the Center spread the word.

I think the zero-entry swimming pool like they have at Fort Benning would be wonderful. There is not a kid-friendly pool at Fort Drum. The "Kids Pool" at Pines Plain is covered in tile with sharp edges. I do not let my toddler in that pool.

The inflatables that they have at pines plains are great but if there were more and the hours longer (available at night/weekends) that would be a great way for the under 10 age group to run off some energy in the winter. Add some fooseball tables, ping pong and both the younger and older kids would have someplace to do during the winter.

Indoor walking/running track would be a big hit. The "track" in McGrath is not really that big. Fort Benning has a rock wall that is a big hit with the guys as well as the kids.

The childcare that they currently offer during the day at the gym is great. If they could run that program at night/weekends so that the people that work during the day would be able to use the gym without trying to track down babysitting.

Sir,
Welcome back to Fort Drum. I hope your third tour here is as rewarding as your previous ones
As a transplant to NNY for 7 years, there is a lot to do here, both on and off post. One thing I would like to see is an indoor area for older kids to play sports through the winter. Something similiar to the Fairgrounds YMCA indoor lacrosse / soccer areas. Someplace for the kids to play lacrosse and soccer when the snow gets deep would be nice. Maybe put an indoor batting cage as well for baseball. I would gladly pay a low fee and even register the kids with CYSS in order for them to have an hour of time to prepare for their Spring sports.

As to the others ... there are softball tournaments each year with teams that have been organized on the installation; there are community rooms available off post for children's events; the restaurants here are a wonderful experience ...Shorty's, Sboro's, Thailand Restaurant, Koreana's, Stefano's Pizzeria, Crystal ... the list goes on. My kid prefer the "non-chain" places . There are outdoor recreations here ... skiing and tubing at Dry Hill in Watertown (they offer military days all season); tubing / sledding at Thompson Park (its free); skiing in Turin; Lake Placid is 3 hours away; ice skating at Watertown Arena. If you look, you'll find just about anything. As for risk assessment ... anyone care to discuss this with the NCO down the road who puts his toddler on the go-kart with him ... no helmets on either of them ... and goes racing through the forest?
Might I suggest ... www.drum.army.mil>MWR for on post recreational items; www.newzjunky.com for off post events; www.google.com to search Watertown NY; Sackets Harbor NY; Alexandria Bay NY; Lowville NY; Croghan NY; Carthage NY; Syracuse NY for seasonal events.

Sir, I think there should be some focus on running trails for FDNY. I realize that there are new gravel trails, but they come across intersections and the Soldiers have to wait for the lights. That is not a huge problem, but for runners who get in a zone, it is kind of a let down. I think we (Fort Drum) should look at cost for basic trails, like the ski trails behind Gutherie Health Clinic. These are a huge hit for 1st BDE, but from 3rd BDE we don't have any substantial dirt trails. To get to that trail head, you would be alomost two miles inot the run, most of which is on the road. That takes away from the trail run and now with the construction, that changes it even more. Just some thoughts Sir, we will see you in a few months.

To the soldier whos next door neighbors just moved here from Campbell: I find it hard to believe that NNY doesn't live up to Ft Campbell. I mean it may get cold here but c'mon, this is the northeast. We are hours away from world class cities: NYC, Boston, Montreal, etc. Aside from that in the local area we have some of the best freshwater fishing in the entire country via the St. Lawrence, Lake Ontario and many other streams, smaller lakes and rivers. If I hear one more person from the midwest complain because Watertown doesn't have an Olive Garden, I will scream! NNY has real Italian restaurants that serve food way better than anything the OG can dish up, try Art's Jug, Sborro's, The Fair Grounds Inn, or Cavallerio's. All have great food and decent prices if you look. I agree that the nightlife and club scene is lacking, but that is pretty typical of Army towns. Unless you want to just go to a bar and drink while listening to loud music, the surrounding area doesn't offer much of a night scene. However Sackets Harbor and Alexandria Bay does have a little better social scene. With all this said, I still think that NNY is way better than any part of Kentucky!

Sir,

One of the best indoor activities was when Range 1 was open for use on the weekends. You could take your privately owned weapons inside and fire them. I cannot remember the caliber of weapons that were authorized but you brought your own targets or payed for the ones from Range 1. You payed by the half hour or hour and it was a GREAT indoor activity for all.

Sir,
I would like to thank you for continuing this great blog. What a terrific way to get information from the bottom up. I would like to ask that you get those of us with ATV's a place to ride in the training area's. I know that there are no shortage of people that will be in your ear talking about the liability issues. I agree there is a degree risk in ATV usage. However, we are Soldier's and Famlies; our lives our based on risk assessments. Our leaders are some of the best risk mitigators in the world. Surely if we can safely move brigades of people and equipment all over the world, we can get an ATV trail set up in our own home and mitigate the risk to a safe level. Thanks again for careing! Climb to Glory!!