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Show i i i i i Council forbids Sunday use of city property By MAIU'ELLA WALKER There will be no city-sponsored nor any private organization-sponsored organization-sponsored recreation activities on Sunday on any city owned property or facility, it. was decided by the Pleasant Grove City Council Tuesday night. Following a discussion which had included a room full of concerned citizens, the council unanimously agreed to the ban on Sunday play. Mayor David Holdaway explained to those assembled that last year a city-sponsored Softball tournament was held on Sunday after the Saturday games were rained out. An emergency decision was made to hold the Sunday game to end the tournament. However, the city council shortly thereafter agreed that no city-sponsored city-sponsored activities on Sunday would be held. Then a couple of tournaments not sponsored by the city were scheduled in Pleasant Grove and games were held on Sunday. The city had this year received requests for the Wasatch Bank Tournament to be held on the weekend, including Sunday, prior to Si wherry Days. In addition, those , leasing the Round-About Raceway i were, going to have a couple of weekend sand drag racing events which would carry over to Sunday. Neither event was city-sponsored, but the council had become concerned con-cerned about the number of activities ac-tivities being scheduled for Sundays and wanted to develop a firm policy on the matter. The mayor said the city council was concerned about the crowds which might attend either or both of these events and the problem of disturbing the peace. Mayor Holdaway allowed comments com-ments from the many citizens gathered the majority seemed to be opposed to any type of activity, . whether city-sponsored or privately-sponsored, on Sunday. Ben Whiting, a member of the Pleasant Grove Stake Presidency, said he was concerned because of the noise from the race track and its close proximity to the slake center. His wife said she felt the majority of people in the community reject the idea of recreation on Sunday. Donna Keate said that the element brought in for some of these events was often not what was wanted in the community. Former Councilwoman Donna Brock said that many religious people of all faiths in Pleasant Grove were concerned about young people being tempted to attend these Sunday events. One man who was unidentified said that the quality of life in Pleasant Grove is what brought him here and he fell the influence of Sunday recreation would disrupt the Sunday atmosphere. Roland Robinson said that" the question of Sunday ball games was brought up years ago and was turned down then and should be turned down now. Councilman Lloyd Ash said that the city policy should be in keeping with most of the communities of the stale which do not allow recreational activities on Sunday. Several of those there said that softball games and races on other days of the week are welcomed and provide a wonderful method of recreation for both the participant and the spectator. They said they would encourage those activities on any day but Sunday. Earl Green, representing Wasatch Bank's Tournament, said the tourney is not a big crowd gatherer and he said that noise is not a problem. Irv Pack also spoke out in favor of the Sunday tournaments saying that he had participated in many Sunday tournaments and that they were a quiet affair that most people were not even aware of. Councilman Ash stated that if one or two are allowed to go ahead with their plans, where will it stop? Mayor Holdaway expressed his appreciation for the comments from the citizens and said that he felt a fair representation of the feelings of the community had been heard. A motion presented by Coun-cilman Coun-cilman Ash was approved which stated that the city would not allow any organized activities on Sunday on city owned property or facilities. This will include the city accepting ac-cepting reservations for park pavillions on Sundays for family reunions and such. - Lindsey Strasburg, whose family has leased the raceway, said he would check to see if they could drop the Sunday races because he would prefer to do this. The city has a written agreement with the Strasburg family to lease the track and it does not stipulate that races cannot be held on Sunday. |