[{"_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",6463748,"mediaKeyId","5785074-d02b3cb12bef8bf495bf9e95a9e3fafe","parentId",5785074,"title","Lenox board reviews baseball/softball survey, explores short-term field fixes and partnerships","audioSeconds",1826,"startMs",1608000,"endMs",3434000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5785074-d02b3cb12bef8bf495bf9e95a9e3fafe&start=1608&end=3434","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5785074-d02b3cb12bef8bf495bf9e95a9e3fafe/thumbnail_1608000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6463748/Lennox/Lincoln-County/South-Dakota/Lenox-board-reviews-baseballsoftball-survey-explores-short-term-field-fixes-and-partnerships","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6463748-57ff205f8a468a743b06e91e7eb83afa/orig.mp4?Expires=1775529892&Signature=JRFl-7BAHfo4G1wTw7gW5YfFqBKvTeF31pDjN3pO3io~cwgpiI~jal9d8U7WIgcb1pK0SZJ9tM0EcH0S46-7LNgXg1R5wOHslqAueUVmYnh7kqKee~pGn8qu6ugU-GGMok1~YI1BNJ9zEHS33IvB1AAvs6vZV1OfMsvzGIzFbS1sPo86DmA~9sUX2EIYv2OSgYOZPStoIzQPiXSue4XpehcVdHN5VfeVwycZnZWDUYsIXfJxTnoLNivDrd5PTpFoTWK1GqDXhz9nolLKYJro7Ll~JGmzabBB9wAq1KwNEUZi8DOX14HkKVxjMEDBzNH9EIAukTJWHgFef~Tt9g13pA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Lennox","date","2025-09-18T12:03:37Z","article","Lenox Parks & Recreation reviewed survey results from its baseball and softball programs and spent much of the meeting discussing field availability, short-term fixes and potential partnerships with nearby facilities.

Christie, Lenox Parks & Recreation director, presented the survey of 34 respondents: 11 softball, 19 baseball and 13 t‑ball participants; 11 respondents identified themselves as coaches. The packet showed coaches and parents were largely satisfied with staff support (90% satisfied or very satisfied) and with program structure (73% satisfied or very satisfied), but respondents raised recurring concerns about field availability, communication and tournament-team scheduling.

\"We had 34 people respond,\" Christie said while summarizing the coach and participant feedback. The most common requests were more field time, clearer communication about last-minute location changes and better coordination for players who participate on both recreational and tournament teams. Several respondents said field conditions were inconsistent; 54% said field conditions met or exceeded expectations while 45% rated conditions below expectations, with comments about longer grass on the softball field and ruts in foul territory on the baseball field.

Board members discussed practical short-term options while awaiting a master park plan. Multiple speakers observed that the town’s t‑ball field could be adapted for more practices or for some 8U games with relatively modest work. Suggestions included installing sprinklers and new nets and improving grass; one board member said the t‑ball field has fewer drainage problems than the softball field and might be easier to bring to usable condition. Members also discussed using Chancellor Field for scheduled practices or occasional games and said staff have opened preliminary contact with a point of contact there.

The board also reported conversations with Worthing City Hall about borrowing field time on two weeknights; Christie said Worthing currently underused its fields and that negotiation could provide additional practice or game time. Members noted potential constraints: lighting for night games is expensive, and any significant capital work should be informed by the town’s upcoming master park plan.

Christie said Parks & Recreation is pursuing grants focused on girls’ sports and other funding sources that could cover a large portion of short-term improvements if the board decides to pursue them. She asked the board whether they wanted staff to pursue grant applications and conduct more on-site assessments of the t‑ball and Chancellor fields; the board agreed to further investigation and to add field-use options to a future agenda.

Ending: Staff will investigate short-term field upgrades (sprinklers, netting, drainage) and partnerships with Chancellor Field and Worthing and return with cost estimates and grant options to a future Parks & Recreation meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Park Board 9.17.25","oneSentenceSummary","Parks & Recreation reviewed a 34-response survey on baseball and softball programs, discussed field conditions and options including using the t‑ball field and partnerships with Chancellor Field and Worthing for practices and games.","taxTitle","Lennox, Lincoln County, South Dakota","taxId",75768,"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},6463752,"Lenox Parks & Recreation board recommends 2026 budget package to city council",1302,384000,1686000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5785074-d02b3cb12bef8bf495bf9e95a9e3fafe&start=384&end=1686","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5785074-d02b3cb12bef8bf495bf9e95a9e3fafe/thumbnail_384000.jpg","/articles/6463752/Lennox/Lincoln-County/South-Dakota/Lenox-Parks-Recreation-board-recommends-2026-budget-package-to-city-council","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6463752-22ba76e2307cbf76894a5770572ba8ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1775529892&Signature=W55QorCzHHsq0MgGEuQ2rJJnd5wQQYnfjkYW-qpEDYwXY21mIRfnDjHkaLwR9Ax9zhZUvMWu2YCIwqewypNOWjMyJQNVeTD0HTexfsFWToms7jyKI0yjLuePIGYPzy~7A4jN1XOzzEzhvdljnSxWCux3GCr0QaKhOGLVNU7RryGhJeOZTlJ9KFRbiI-D9oDgM4Ej~OjsQX2PY5QEIIY85DdOB2qiyfHHloGGq21taP-zgEFY-mGVe29Lko9ifXpTlFW3JqCMlAEY1wjB7jH7aMfmNOM-iIdYhacR1~k3vYmWrw46VHeFOolHXoxDVhdxAy0x9N9lyHTUbhMuX66puA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lenox Parks & Recreation on Tuesday reviewed proposed 2026 budgets for recreation programming, the recreation general fund, the parks general fund and the municipal pool and voted to recommend the package to the Lenox City Council.

Christie, Lenox Parks & Recreation director, presented four budget packets and walked the board through highlights for each. \"I just thought it would be easier in the eyes to look at it that way,\" Christie said when introducing the separate program- and fund-level budget sheets. She told the board she will continue to refine line items and consult with Nate and other staff on outstanding questions.

The recreation program budget is organized so program fees are intended to cover program-specific costs; Christie noted expenses such as umpires, SportsEngine credit-card fees and some repair work are allocated across line items rather than to single activities. Flag football and soccer registrations are off to an early start this fall with about 135 participants in flag football and about 100 in soccer, Christie said.

The recreation general fund includes staffing and utilities, plus a placeholder of $8,000 for a netting system the board discussed at an earlier meeting. The parks general fund proposes $20,000 for improvements, broken down in the packet to include roughly $1,000 for a playground safety net at the softball field, $2,000 for benches and trash cans at West Evergreen Park, $1,500 to redo the horseshoe area, $750 for artwork and $3,000 for campground gravel. Christie said resurfacing the basketball court and campground bathroom overhauls were discussed but not included in the $20,000 estimate because costs are still being estimated.

For the pool budget Christie said staff obtained a quote to add a second video camera (to improve visibility in the deep end) and included spare-circulation and play-feature pumps to reduce the risk of multi-day closures; she cited a $6,300 quote for those spare pumps.

Christie told the board the budgets, as recommended by Parks & Recreation, will go to Lenox City Council for review and approval. A board member moved to recommend the 2026 budgets to council; the board then voted in favor of referring the package to council for final action.

Board members asked staff to continue refining estimates for major items and to check grant opportunities and second-penny capital funds for larger purchases. Christie said larger capital needs such as mowers, a vehicle or pool pumps could be considered for the second-penny capital fund.

The board approved recommending the budgets to council but noted any numbers could change after council review. Christie said staff will follow up on outstanding estimates and suggested items that may be better funded through grants or second-penny capital allocations.

Ending: The board’s recommendation will be transmitted to Lenox City Council for formal consideration; staff said they will return with updated estimates and additional detail if council requests it.","Lenox Parks & Recreation discussed four proposed 2026 budgets covering recreation programming, the recreation general fund, parks general fund and the pool, and voted to recommend the package to Lenox City Council for review.","actionData","errors"]

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Lenox board reviews baseball/softball survey, explores short-term field fixes and partnerships

Lenox Parks & Recreation board recommends 2026 budget package to city council