Perkins Parks & Recreation schedules spring workdays and an equipment donation drive, readies spring sports season

Perkins Parks & Recreation board members voted to hold two workdays and to host an equipment-donation drive at the same time, and they discussed logistics for the upcoming spring sports season, including team counts, umpire pay and concession plans.

Parks & Recreation director Trent said the spring rosters include 3 12U softball teams, 2 10U softball teams, 3 8U softball teams; for baseball, he listed 2 8U, 5 10U and 2 12U teams, plus eight T-ball teams. "I have 3 12 u softball teams in Perkins, 2 10 U Softball Teams, 3 8 U Softball Teams," Trent reported to the board.

The board discussed scheduling and volunteer needs: T-ball and age-group game nights were described (Trent referenced an April 3 start for the first round of games and said T-ball games run in the evening), and concession staffing and menu planning were raised. Concession plans include hot dogs, nachos, chips and a limited candy selection based on prior-season sales; the director said she would begin stocking drinks mid-month and noted high demand for certain items such as pickles and popcorn.

Umpire recruitment and pay rates were discussed. The board recorded per-game pay levels announced by staff: $25 per game for T-ball, $30 for 8U, $35 for 10U and $40 for 12U; for 10U and 12U baseball/softball the plan is to assign two umpires per game.

Board members discussed field and equipment maintenance and agreed to two workdays to complete painting, power-washing and repairs; the director said she will organize project lists so volunteers know what tools or supplies to bring. The board approved holding the workdays on "Thursday the 20th and Friday the 21st" (month not specified in discussion), and the vote was recorded as affirmative for each board member present (Courtney: yes; Jody: yes; Chris: yes; Emily: yes).

The board also approved an equipment donation program to run on the same dates, allowing residents to drop off gently used gloves, bats and other gear for distribution to families in need. Staff said donated equipment will be inspected and unsafe or weather-damaged items will be discarded.

The meeting covered other program topics including a parks-and-rec mural contest with local schools (high-school art students would paint murals if the department supplies paint), and interest in adult programming such as expanding adult softball, trivia or pickleball. No additional fee increases or formal field-rental agreements were finalized at the meeting.