To the editor:

The first time I toured the new rec center, the large number of cracks in the concrete was the first thing I noticed. Beyond the obvious question of how the omission of expansion joints occurred, I had a thought I wonder how many would agree with: Our government recently approved $2.4 billion for the creation of a new spacecraft to get people to the space station. Wouldn’t you like to see just a little of that money, talent, engineering, etc., go into inventing a concrete of asphalt-type product that actually lasts a little while?

In the year 2014, isn’t it amazing that we still build a street or highway or curbing and, before it’s finished, the early part is already breaking up? Or a rec center floor is cracking in the first month? With the money and talent put into the space program, I can’t help but think that a small portion of those scientists, engineers and labs, if redirected, could come up with a solution. Then, perhaps someday, we have not so much road reconstruction or cracks in new concrete. Anyone agree?