One of the biggest complaints we hear from parents in our community is that there is not enough for kids to do. It was a concern brought up by community leaders at an economic summit at Northeastern Technical College in July: Besides infrastructure and an educated workforce, industries and businesses want recreational opportunities for employees and their families.

This is why we encourage Chesterfield Town Council to consider establishing a YMCA Fitness Center in Chesterfield as important as four-laning S.C. Highway 9. A YMCA would make the area more attractive for potential industries, and it would serve a need local residents are clamoring about.

YMCAs are the largest not-for-profit community service organizations in America, working to meet the health and social service needs of 18.9 million men, women and children in 10,000 communities in the United States. Y's are for people of all faiths, races, abilities, ages and incomes. No one is turned away for inability to pay. YMCAs' brings all kinds of people together.

All YMCAs are different. They are set up to serve the needs of each community, whether it be child care or teen leadership clubs or swimming lessons or drawing classes. Every Y makes its own decisions on what programs to offer and how to operate.

YMCA's mission statement is: To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.

What better organization to invite into our community.

Chesterfield should not pass up this opportunity to create a partnership with a YMCA. Not only would the partnership lighten the load of administrative costs, it would increase the recreational opportunities the town could offer not only its residents, but the whole county.

According to Mayor John Douglas, who proposed the idea at a Town Council meeting, Chesterfield is in a good position to start a YMCA because it has a building available for use. The town recently purchased the old Chesterfield Middle School to renovate for a new community center. The renovations, which include building a gym, are being funded in part from the insurance settlement after a fire claimed the former Chesterfield Community Center.

A YMCA is not a cure-all for the chronically bored, but it is definitely an answer for "What is there for my children to do?" If the study by the YMCA's governing board shows a partnership is feasible, we say don't let a good opportunity pass us by.