It’s back to the drawing board for those in Bend who would like to see Troy Field gain historic status. The National Park Service turned down a request to list the vacant lot downtown on the National Register of Historic Places.

Proponents of the listing failed to make a clear case that the 0.8-acre lot on Bond Street is historically significant as a recreation site. That’s been the difficulty all along.

While the property has, in fact, been used for recreation over the years, it’s been used for lots of other things, as well. It has housed tents for religious revivals, been a staging area for horse parades and the annual Pet Parade, and, in 1937, was home to the first Oregon Driving School. In terms of history, however, the field may be no more historic than Harmon Park.

While the field proposal was rejected, supporters of the listing no doubt will take heart from information that could make listing a reality. In addition to beefing up claims about why its use as a recreational site is somehow historic, national register historian Lisa Deline also made at least one other suggestion: The site could be included as part of the old Bend High School historic site.

Better still would be for supporters of the historic nomination to recognize that sentimental value and historical value are two very different things. Yes, Troy Field has been used for years by a wide variety of Bend residents for a wide variety of things. Yes, many of those activities are remembered with fondness. And yes, it would be nice to keep the lot as a community space.

But historic status would leave Bend-La Pine Schools in possession of a white elephant it does not want. Moreover, it would be responsible for watering, mowing and otherwise maintaining it.

A better solution would be for the field’s supporters to buy the field and preserve it that way, rather than leaving taxpayers holding the Troy Field bag in perpetuity.

A better solution would be for the field’s supporters to buy the field and preserve it that way, rather than leaving taxpayers holding the Troy Field bag in perpetuity.