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Resident tells council more than 300 children left on Little League waitlist; suggests field lighting upgrades
Summary
A Goodyear resident told the Feb. 10 City Council meeting that roughly 1,300 children tried to register for Little League but only about 1,000 roster slots were available, leaving more than 300 children on a waitlist; she asked council to consider adding lights to underused fields as an interim fix.
During the Feb. 10 public-comment period, Goodyear resident Julie Haynes raised concerns about youth-sports capacity and field availability after her 9-year-old son was placed on a Little League waitlist.
Haynes said the league received about 1,300 registration requests this year but had room for approximately 1,000 players, leaving "Levi and 300 plus others" without spots. She said she had volunteered to coach but learned the limiting factor was not volunteers but available fields. "It turns out we got a letter, there's not enough fields," Haynes said.
Haynes suggested the city consider upgrading at least "3 or 4 fields that just don't have lights" so they could be used in more time slots while more permanent field construction proceeds. She said she submitted a letter to the city on Jan. 31 describing the issue and requested follow-up.
Parks staff told Haynes during the meeting that staff would follow up with her and inform council; staff also said future capital improvement program planning could address the concern. The statement at the meeting constituted staff follow-up direction; there was no council vote or formal policy action recorded.
