Park Board Minutes 2006 09-25-06 Page 1 of 3
Yorkville Parks & Recreation Department
Special Meeting of the City of Yorkville Park Board
Monday, September 25, 2006
7:00 pm
Riverfiont Park Building
301 E. Hydraulic St.
Yorkville, 11, 60560
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Ken Koch at 7:00 pm.
2. Roll Call
Kelly Sedgwick, Debbie Horaz, Gary GolinsId, Ken Koch, and Van Truman were
in attendance. Parks Superintendent, Scott Sleezer and Executive Director of Parks,
Dave Mogle were also present.
Steve Hansen, Lauren Underhill, Pete Athens, Mike Romano, Ben Asel, and Chester
Hughes were here on behalf of the Yorkville Youth Baseball and Softball League and the
Yorkville Reds,
3. Old Business
Youth Baseball Field Usage—The Yorkville Reds and the Yorkville Youth Baseball
and Softball League presented the Board with their Baseball field needs. The
Yorkville Reds have had 100 children try out and 69 children have been accepted so
far. They have one team for each level age 10 through 14, and a second team for the
13 year old level. They are requesting the use of 3 fields. Beecher 5 can
accommodate an 80 foot baseline. Beecher 1 and 2 as well as the Fox Hill West Field
can accommodate 70 foot baselines. The Reds were asked what their contingency
plan was. In the worst case scenario all the games would be away games.
The Yorkville Youth Baseball and Softball league is projecting a 20% increase in
enrollment overall, They are projecting a 25% increase in the K—8 teams. They are
adding Friday play as well as full Saturday play. There are 1,200 players in the league
and they are all Yorkville School District kids. No one who wants to play is cut from
the team. This is a strictly volunteer group with no paid employees. The pitching
machines the league uses require electricity. They will be needing additional fields to
accommodate their needs. The Harris fields and possibly the Cross Fields could be
used for the transition league program. They would need another field with access to
electricity for the pitching machine.
A question was raised about improving fields with the Forest Preserve or Cross
Lutheran. The Forest Preserve is not interested in any improvements or additions to
the fields. They also have limited parking. The fields at Cross could possibly be used
for practices,
YYB&S practices begin the end of April and play runs until July 40', The travel
league plays through the .3`d week of July.
The Reds begin the 3`d week of March and run through August 15t
March IS`is the deadline for getting the field schedule to the Parks & Recreation
Department.
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Until the lease agreement is signed with the Forest Preserve for the Harris fields there
is still a gray area. The Boy Scouts will still get preferred treatment.
The Reds had to get a permit from the county as well as the Boy Scouts in order to use
the fields in the past.
There was a question about whether YYB&S thought they would use all their make up
game dates. Last year they did not make up all the games they had originally
scheduled.
Each field requested by YYB&S will have 100 games and practices played on them.
There was a question about where the shortfall was. At what age? The projections are
not that detailed. That will be answered after sign-ups.
If new fields were made able to handle multiple distances it would give greater
flexibility. The mound could be portable.
Scott Sleezer asked if partnerships could be created. World there be any funding from
the YYB&S for improving fields? The answer was yes, a prioritized list could be
made for field improvements.
Grande Reserve and the School district have lighted fields. More games can be played
on lighted fields. YYB&S are able to use the fields at Circle Center and they have 1
month of usage on the Freshman Boys field at the High School. It has a 90 foot
baseline, and that works for the 14 year old boys.
There was some discussion about whether the YYBS agreement was exclusive. YYBS
gets priority for field reservations. The next priority would be for private groups that
are made up of 80% Yorkville Residents.
If the fields at Hoover were taken out of YYBS schedule it would make an additional
shortage of 137 field slots. If'partnerships were created, it may be possible to create
another field. The feasibility of adding lights to an existing field was discussed.
Beecher would not get lights.
YYBS asked to keep things the same as they were in the past. They are trying to
improve the program for the kids. They will have an honest account for the exact
fields needed by March Ist
Scott Sleezer said that Baseball and Soccer are expanding rapidly and besides the
additional baseball field needs there are also soccer field needs. A plan has to be made
that will include all kinds of fields. In the Spring the Recreation department will have
Adult Softball In-House that will also need fields.
YYBS has an elite traveling team. They have try outs for this team and if the child
does not make it on this team they have the opportunity to play on a different team in
the league. The Reds have try outs, and if the child does not make the team there is no
other offer. YYBS has one team at each age. The Reds have one at each age and a 2"d
13 year old team.
If the lighted fields are considered the Parks and Recreation department only comes
close to breaking even on YYBS'needs. There may be other organizations with
private fields or space for fields such as churches or the Legion.
The cost for lighting fields at Hoover was expensive. It was thought it would cost 12
million and 450,000 would be just to run the electric lines to it.
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The next step for this would be to turn it over to staff. Both organizations will receive
a follow up call.
4. Adjournment
Debbie Horaz moved to adjorun the meeting, Kelly Sedgwick seconded the
motion. All were in favor. The meeting was adjotuned at 8:07 pm
Minutes submitted by Laura Leppert.
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