Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Field Conversion topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lowell parks board puts converted Roland Mambo Field on hold, seeks family and department review
Summary
Board members paused formal approval after finding a Little League diamond had been converted to a softball layout without prior board notification and asked staff to investigate and contact the family for whom the field is named.
The Lowell City Parks & Recreation board voted to put on hold formal approval of a recent conversion of the Roland Mambo field from a Little League layout to a softball configuration and asked staff to investigate how the change occurred and to check whether the Mambo family objects.
The change, board members said, appeared to have been completed earlier this year without prior notice to the parks board. Several commissioners argued the board should have been consulted before the field’s layout was altered because the field carries a commemorative name and because the two field types have different safety and play characteristics.
Commissioner Tom said the board should not be surprised by public criticism if neighbors or family members learn about changes only after they are made. A resident who said they walk the neighborhood confirmed the conversion likely occurred in the spring and described staff work to remove a pitching mound and rework the surface for softball play.
Board members explained the distinction: Little League fields typically include a raised pitching mound and a grass/dirt infield built to Little League specifications, while softball diamonds are generally flat and played on clay or compacted surfaces. One commissioner warned the differences could increase injury risk if a Little League game were played on a softball surface designed without a mound.
The board’s action and staff follow‑up
- The board unanimously approved a motion to place the item on hold and directed staff to trace the decision path that led to the conversion, identify who authorized it, and contact appropriate community contacts (including Matt Lasher, a youth‑organization contact identified in discussion) and the Mambo family before returning the item for a future vote.
- Heather, parks staff, agreed to ask department leadership how the change was authorized and to report back. Commissioners asked that the parks subcommittee and city council notification be coordinated if further steps are required.
Why it matters
The field is named for a community member with an associated family legacy; commissioners said changes to named facilities carry higher expectations for outreach and transparency. Commissioners also argued that mixing field types or changing uses without notice creates operational and safety concerns for youth players.
Next steps and timeline
Staff said they would ask department leadership for the conversion history and expected to return findings soon; commissioners said the parks subcommittee will consider the finding before the parks handbook changes proceed and requested notification of any upcoming city council discussion.
