by Jolene Toves

Guam - Renovations will soon be underway at the Northern Sports Complex. But while plans are in the works to make some major improvements, funding and staff shortages will prevent the facility from realizing its full potential.

It was in 2010 the ribbon was cut signifying the completion of the Northern Regional Sports Complex. Two years later, "The contractor now that is up there is correcting all those deficiencies cement the deck extend the dugout and extend the fence," said Department of Parks & Recreation administrator Joe Mendiola.

The $5,000,000 project was paid for with federal grants, which included a swimming pool, a fitness trail and several baseball fields. What wasn't included in the project - the addition of bleachers, or lights for night games or for residents wanting to use the fitness trail after sunset, there's also no restrooms. And then there's the issue of the turf.

"I know that we tried to get dirt to soil to put it back in most of it was washed out during the rainy season or during construction," Mendiola said. "But that's the situation we are in now, so the grass that you see there is basically just grass that grows."

According to Mendiola, discussions are underway to re-seed the fields, but nothing has been finalized. He adds it will be about another month or two when bleachers will finally be installed. But as for lights, there's just no money - and like the shortage in cash - DPR faces a shortage of manpower. According to Mendiola that's the reason why you don't see anyone utilizing the brand new slide that was installed at the swimming pool.

"When it was built nobody realized that it required more people if you go to any slide on the island or in the states there are certain people that are required to man the slide," he said.

Since the Dededo Pool was turned over to the Parks & Rec a staffing issue has prevented the slide behind me to be fully utilized. It is staffing issues such as this that prevents the agency to not only properly maintain the Dededo Pool, but also the Dededo Sports Complex.

But the end of the day saw good news, as $40,000 in Department of the Interior funding to install seven solar lights around the Complex and fitness trail.