[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6255334,"mediaKeyId","3165448-6ebf2ab4d319a076217f4f44ab35c962","parentId",3165448,"title","Lowell parks board to hold special meeting with city attorney to rework tournament and permit rules","audioSeconds",590,"startMs",5580000,"endMs",6170000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3165448-6ebf2ab4d319a076217f4f44ab35c962&start=5580&end=6170","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3165448-6ebf2ab4d319a076217f4f44ab35c962/thumbnail_5580000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6255334/Lowell-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Lowell-parks-board-to-hold-special-meeting-with-city-attorney-to-rework-tournament-and-permit-rules","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6255334-abff54816115a666cd10610cf6328eeb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204000&Signature=XpGyKVip8zhuw-Fr6jqA5hXWrT7fEKM-NcYHC7mg3c~ItUXDtvKLEqjP7Rwfa1dTj8SwyDf5c3uSXrO~w8RlIqW2UHq8Is9xVu~d-qKu7Uhn9y0iCp5LzzF0T6f6ccPMca7kTGldrzUEw2MEOxV0afZoogHL8llHDSFEKK7XwGy8heqG1D0RkXnYybTdHX4u22oNIiGAXYO2H130HNVue3jWelGQQy3XrOUhueEOXNW9xKFlbOuJ9yuE5F22IQqqeG5iK1c63YBnbhMunIVE1FGo~HN2dVQJvaL9Ux4MF0G22vvXfi46t-rrsyNn9skCzQ4NbY76KF-f~0BLC-Im~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lowell City, MA","date","2025-04-30T21:34:49Z","article","An extended policy discussion at the City of Lowell Board of Parks meeting on April 30 focused on revising how the city handles large tournaments, field availability and permit fees. Board members agreed to hold a special meeting with the city solicitor and the full parks board to develop proposed language and fee recommendations for the City Council.

Why it matters: Tournaments and multi‑day field use generate substantial revenue and can effectively reserve fields for private users for weeks at a time. Board members, council representatives and staff said the city needs a clearer, more enforceable policy that balances revenue, field maintenance and public access.

What board members discussed
Board members and staff reviewed recent complaints from council members and residents about long-running blanket permits and unclear tournament handling. Staff and council members recommended stronger rules and clearer language to prevent informal “subletting” of permits and to ensure the city retains oversight over multi-day, multi-field events.

The board discussed several policy options raised at a prior Parks & Recreation Subcommittee meeting and during the council’s review:
- Raising or restructuring tournament fees to reflect city costs and discourage unregulated commercial use of multiple fields;
- Creating an RFP (request-for-proposal) process so a contracted promoter would bid to run tournaments and share revenue or guarantee field-restoration standards; and
- Setting limits on blanket or season-long permits (board members repeatedly cited 53-day blanket assignments as excessive).

Next steps and timing
Board members voted to schedule a special meeting that includes all board members plus the city solicitor to draft proposed language and recommended fee structures. They indicated a goal of producing a proposal for City Council consideration with an implementation target in 2026; staff warned the council would need time to review any ordinance or fee changes and that permit applicants should expect advance notice before new rules take effect.

What was decided
The board approved a motion to convene a special meeting with the city attorney and the full parks board to craft changes to tournament policy and fee language. No fee schedule or ordinance change was adopted at the April 30 meeting; board members said they want draft language vetted by legal counsel and the parks subcommittee before any formal submission to the City Council.

Ending
Board members said they would coordinate schedules to hold the special meeting in the coming weeks so staff and city counsel can produce a draft for broader review; until that process is complete, current permit rules remain in effect.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lowell Board of Parks - April 30, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Board members, councilors and staff spent an extended portion of the April 30 meeting discussing tournament fees, field availability and possible procurement options; the board agreed to schedule a special meeting with the city solicitor to draft ordinance/language changes for council consideration.","taxTitle","Lowell City, Middlesex County, Massachusetts","taxId",4223,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6255339,"Lowell parks board approves bundled school field-day permits and a series of community event permits, waives several fees",317,267000,584000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3165448-6ebf2ab4d319a076217f4f44ab35c962&start=267&end=584","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3165448-6ebf2ab4d319a076217f4f44ab35c962/thumbnail_267000.jpg","/articles/6255339/Lowell-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Lowell-parks-board-approves-bundled-school-field-day-permits-and-a-series-of-community-event-permits-waives-several-fees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6255339-ebd15e6c6eaded8bc44c8a3269b6d3f6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204000&Signature=H8dTNpEZEIje7BVgIjxRf0OtiHMhbv0BH0zvYKdh1OVWoASiDpanysA4caSdZC-OUgAP22fZgJZsbBLMQLsSPeS8VO2zYuUrnR3Pu0WhXVjcWOo0ksZL9jwKI7C7JMk14o7auRJl9NwczQB7HYsuZEDilgwodkzRFnyddCF427r06CImV3EkUQuNnqT9swIILpDV8XAoxlbnzJQOscD7r-p8y2lF9B0MFr6e8hdI9tmMP~ucX4aqY80sF04ubXzKmYjoGw6totfDstHfW01KW7t14eGtvqFKnPcTyRgKQXK9~D-1WyX50TEyLq4um5ApwbynU1tS8kfPn8KM2GIm4A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Lowell Board of Parks on April 30 approved a bundle of school field-day permits and a series of individual permits for park pavilions and fields, and granted several fee waivers and credits for community groups.

Board members voted to bundle agenda items 5, 7, 11, 15, 24 and 33—requests from multiple schools seeking field-day permits—so staff could process them together. The board also approved individual permits and fee adjustments including: a resident-fee waiver for a gender-reveal event at Sheddle Park Pavilion (custodial fee only), a $900 credit to Lowell Girls and Boys Lacrosse for three canceled dates, a $75 credit for a rain-cancelled Hovey Field reservation, a $19.50 waiver for a concession-stand account correction, and custodial-fee approvals for multiple birthday parties, church picnics and nonprofit events.

Why it matters: The approvals clear the way for spring and summer school and community activities in Lowell parks and formalize several ad hoc fee adjustments that board members said help volunteer groups and small nonprofits hold community events.

Most-requested items and board direction
The board consolidated multiple school permits so each school would not have to wait through separate agenda items. Chair (unnamed) asked for a single motion to approve the grouped requests; a board member moved and another seconded, and the board voted “Aye” and carried the motion.

Peter Crew, City parks staff, explained operational details for permit holders: setup and cleanup time is included in permit blocks, the splash pad can be opened by request on a permit, and smaller pavilions are typically rented in four-hour blocks through the online system. “Shannon will be aware and have it ready. It’ll be right on the permit that you are requesting the splash pad,” Crew said when applicants asked about splash-pad availability.

Applicants and fee decisions
- Jacqueline Scott requested the Shed Park pavilion for a gender-reveal party (May 10). The board waived the resident fees and charged only the custodial charge. Scott said she expected about 50–60 people and would use crock pots for food warmers; the board confirmed setup and cleanup time are included in the permitted block.

- Evan Mallet (represented at the meeting) and Lowell Girls and Boys Lacrosse asked for a credit after paying for three dates they did not use; the board approved a $900 credit for the three canceled dates.

- Patty Crabtree requested fall cross‑country permits; the board approved the requested dates at no fee.

- Gil Vigent requested the McPherson Park concession stand May 1–Aug. 17 and later asked that fees for multiple canceled dates be waived. The board approved the concession-stand permit and waived a $19.50 assessed total (a previous larger figure on the agenda was corrected during discussion).

- Multiple small events—baby showers, first-birthday parties, craft fairs and neighborhood volleyball/volunteer events—were approved with standard custodial fees or no-fee status where applicants qualified as residents or nonprofit groups. Notable approvals included a two-day craft fair (June 1 and Sept. 7) at Shed Park with a total fee of $800, and a charity basketball event at the Stocklow courts approved with no fee.

Discussion and conditions
Board members repeatedly reminded applicants that gas grills are not permitted (charcoal only) and that applicants must clean up after events. Staff said fireworks and open gas grills are prohibited, electricity is available at some pavilions, and custodial fees keep bathrooms open during events.

What was not decided
The board did not change the city-wide fee schedule at this meeting; most fee changes were case-by-case waivers or credits approved by motion. Applicants were told staff will process the permits and notify them by email to pay through their online accounts.

Ending
Board members closed the permits portion with routine “motion carries” votes and moved on to a separate, extended policy discussion about tournament fees and field availability later in the meeting.","At its April 30 meeting the City of Lowell Board of Parks approved bundled permits for multiple school field days, granted a string of pavilion and field permits for religious, nonprofit and private events, and approved several fee waivers and credits for community groups.","actionData","errors"]

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Lowell parks board to hold special meeting with city attorney to rework tournament and permit rules

Lowell parks board approves bundled school field-day permits and a series of community event permits, waives several fees