The East Selma Community Pond was 10 years in the making. And it was worth the wait.

The fishing pond held its grand opening on Saturday. It was attended by Mayor James Perkins Jr., state Rep. Yusuf Salaam and Councilman James Durry, whose ward the pond is located in. The area isn’t a hole filled with water, it’s a park complete with gazebo, benches and a fully stocked pond filled with bream and bass.

We encourage every Selmian to take advantage of the East Selma Community Pond. It isn’t just beautiful, it’s free.

Local and state governments are sometimes accused of taxing citizens’ incomes and then squandering them. In the East Selma Community Pond, though, we can see our monies at work and we can have fun doing it.

The pond is an appropriate symbol for Selma &045; it’s in a public location that breaks through barriers of race and age. Blacks and whites can have a seat on the manicured grass, cast their lines and hope for the best. The only age requirement for fishing is being able to hold the pole and even that can be accomplished with the help of mom or dad.

Mondays and Tuesdays are reserved for seniors 55 and over. The rest of the week it’s open to people of all ages.

We trust everyone will not only make use of the pond, but also respect its rules. We’ve been given a gift by our elected representatives, the Jonathan Daniels Community Development Center and the U.S. Justice Department’s Weed and Seed Program. Let’s make use of our gift and treat it as we would treat a treasured item in our own homes.

Because the pond does rest in our homes &045; our community &045; and it’s worth taking care of.