El Dorado renames Northfield at East Park for longtime Butler softball coach Doug Chance

The El Dorado City Commission voted 4–1 on July 7 to amend the city’s park and recreation facility naming policy and to rename Northfield at East Park as Doug Chance Field, honoring the former Butler Community College softball coach.

The commission’s change to the naming policy removes the requirement that a person be deceased before a park or recreation facility can be named for them, and the commission then approved the field renaming following public comment and statements from current and former players.

Luke Lennon, a local resident who spoke for supporters, summarized Coach Doug Chance’s tenure at Butler Community College, saying Chance was hired in 2005 and retired in 2022. Lennon read testimonials and statistics, saying Chance’s teams won 14 Kansas Jayhawk Conference titles and national championships in 2016 and 2017. Lennon also noted an 81% career winning percentage and an 88-game win streak and said the program produced numerous All-Americans and Academic Team honors, drawing visitors and economic activity to El Dorado.

Several commissioners and former players spoke in favor of the renaming, citing Chance’s long-term work on facilities, recruiting, and mentorship. One commissioner who identified herself as Candace said she intended to be the lone negative vote, explaining she prefers naming facilities for individuals with a lengthy record working directly with youth programs across the community; she said that preference did not negate Chance’s contributions.

The commission’s staff report noted the Park and Recreation Advisory Board met on June 4 and split 2–2 on a formal recommendation; per board policy a tie produced no formal recommendation to the commission. The commission’s action overrode the lack of a board recommendation and approved the proposed designation.

The resolution passed on the commission floor after a motion and second; the recorded outcome was “motion carries, 4 to 1.” No additional procedural steps or conditions were recorded in the meeting minutes for the renaming.

Supporters at the meeting described specific facility improvements associated with Chance’s tenure, including dugout painting, batting cages, a press box, overhead awnings and seating, and an emphasis on maintaining a “college-caliber” playing surface. The commission did not adopt additional funding or capital projects tied to the name change during the meeting.

The commission also approved the broader amendment to the park and recreation facility naming policy. That amendment removes the requirement that an honoree be deceased and allows living persons to be eligible for facility names under the revised policy. The staff report and meeting discussion noted the advisory board’s split vote and recommended the commission adopt the policy as presented.

Commissioners and community members who spoke urged recognition of Chance’s contributions to Butler Community College and to El Dorado’s softball community; opponents cautioned about the long-term implications of naming public facilities after living persons. The commission’s 4–1 vote finalizes the name change and the policy amendment.

The commission did not set a date for signage changes or a dedication ceremony during the meeting; no implementation schedule was recorded.