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Beach Park board approves Maroons Ball Club use of Founders Park fields
Summary
The Village of Beach Park approved a resolution allowing the Maroons Ball Club to use all three Founders Park ballfields for youth baseball and softball; the club will handle field maintenance, background checks and parking coordination for tournaments.
The Village of Beach Park board on Feb. 24 approved a resolution authorizing the Maroons Ball Club to use all three ballfields at Founders Park for youth baseball and softball through the high-school level, with the club responsible for field maintenance and volunteer background checks.
The agreement allows the club to use the park’s snack bar and facilities and requires the Maroons to perform routine field upkeep; the village will continue routine mowing. The parks-and-recreation-related conditions in the agreement include background checks for volunteers, parking coordination for tournaments and the village’s right to cancel the agreement if problems arise.
Village staff said the club approached the village as a Zion-area feeder organization and that the parks-and-recreation committee verified references and asked the club to demonstrate vetting of adults who work with children. The village also contacted the Zion Police Department and the park district as part of its reference checks; staff reported no complaints on file.
Kimberly Clark, a Maroons Ball Club representative attending the meeting, said the club is “so proud to be able to call that our home now” and pledged to provide schedules and to manage games and practices so the park is left in good condition. The club said it will extend baselines on the front field to the 90-foot standard used for older players and said it would consider installing and funding fencing in the future.
Trustees and residents asked about conflicts with informal soccer use of the park, spectator parking for tournaments and how the club would notify neighbors when events occur. The Maroons said the primary conflict area is the front field; they plan to post field-usage signage, bring small temporary signs for tournaments, and coordinate overflow parking with nearby properties if needed. The club said it will provide a supervisor and other on-site personnel for most events.
The board voted by roll call in favor of the resolution. Trustee Miller, Trustee Sittig, Trustee Wells and Trustee Johnson were recorded as voting in the affirmative and the motion carried.
The club will provide the village with its schedule before public posting and the agreement includes language permitting the village to terminate the arrangement if safety or use issues arise.
