On Jan. 9, 2025, the Town of Oak Ridge Town Council approved a six-month extension of the 2024–25 parks use agreement with the Oak Ridge Youth Association (ORYA) and increased the spring stipend from $15,000 to $19,000 to help the organization through a leadership transition.

Parks and Recreation presented the recommendation after a working-group review and a Parks & Rec Advisory Board recommendation. The expanded stipend was described by Parks & Rec members as a short-term, partial increase to support ORYA’s new leadership and help clear past season billing issues; Parks & Rec said the $19,000 spring stipend would still keep annual support below the town’s prior $30,000 annual level if the council continued that funding structure.

ORYA President Philip Southern addressed council, thanked the town for its longstanding partnership and said growth in some sports and increased field usage had driven the association’s request. Parks and Rec representative Adrian Eckenrod explained the board’s recommendation: the six-month extension buys time for a larger contract review and for ORYA to provide clearer usage and fee data to inform a full-year agreement.

Councilors debated approving the $19,000 stipend immediately versus approving the agreement at the original $15,000 and revisiting the additional $4,000 later. Supporters noted registration timing and ORYA’s immediate cash-flow needs; others asked for additional data before committing to the increased amount. Council ultimately approved the extension with the $19,000 stipend by a 4–1 vote.

Council and staff said they will continue reviewing usage data, resident versus nonresident fee collection, and alternatives for the future multi-year agreement during the six-month extension period.