The Parade Grounds inside Clark FreePort Zone or what used to be Clark Field when the Americans still occupied the place has a new look.

The area is a historical place, being the site of the original Fort Stotsenburg with the barn houses and grazing grounds with the sweet grasses favored by the cavalry horses, previously settled by the Aetas and then taken over by the Americans.

This standard colonial development marked the beginnings of the various infrastructures built in the area in order to house the administrative operations of the base which emerged to become the largest and most important air base of the USA outside its mainland. Some of these are still designated as buildings 2121, 2125 and 2127.

There are still the colonial residences for the Base Commander and other military officers. These have been made over and upgraded for the current uses of the Clark Development Corporation.

Certain historical events happened at this site. It was the parade grounds for a lot of important ceremonies and activities. President Manuel Roxas suffered his fatal heart attack while delivering a speech during an event in the place.

During today’s times of the CDC, the management have kept the original concept and integrity of the Parade Grounds intact. It provides a site for various activities and events but its physical state has been left untouched.

The old stately trees surrounding the area have been nurtured and kept alive after so many years, with a few being a hundred years old.

The path circumnavigating the perimeter has been maintained to accommodate joggers and walkers with some benches placed at strategic intervals.

Then CDC president Manny Angeles placed a cluster of statues of American cavalry soldiers and Aetas in the area where the two original posts of Fort Stotsenburg are erected.

Being the educator that he is, Dr. Angeles recognized and respected the historical value of the area. He was also planning to construct other appropriate historical monuments and structures in strategic places in the area but other events intervened.

Still, the physical layout and the topography of a flat and unimpeded view of the surrounding structures had been kept.

This is, according to landscape experts, a standard principle in the setting and highlighting of the various historical buildings and monuments. It does not add unimportant and irrelevant clutter and destroy the coherence and integrity of the quality and spirit of the place.

Recently, I was surprised to find that the Parade Grounds have now been utilized as baseball and football fields. Several football goals and fields have been laid out and marked. A baseball field, maybe one, has also been placed.

There were times when I also saw several people and players utilizing the new facilities. Likewise, I read a bid notice of CDC buying bleacher seats, which must be for the area.

The commitment to the use must be there with the amount of money being earmarked to be spent.

Now, maybe we can expect the Azcals to be playing in the field and thousands of fans coming to watch the game.

Or maybe football and baseball will now be the sport of CDC employees, locators and their friends as the sports of the moment. Never mind basketball, tennis or golf. Never mind the Picnic Grounds and other open spaces.

We need activities which are immediately visible.

While we are along this creative and brilliant undertaking, we might as well construct a track and field oval which will fit in quite nicely with the configuration of the Parade Grounds and provide space and locations for other sports like the long jump, javelin throw, shot put event, pole vault and others.

Then CDC can host other sporting events and not be limited and held hostage to the Hot Air Balloon of Joy Roa.

 And as an added benefit and achievement, this undertaking will be the most significant development initiated by CDC after the Americans left.

In terms of branding and a consistent and logical progression of the evolution of the place- - from Clark Field to C LARK PLAYING FIELDS. Congratulations!