Waynesville council approves short-term softball plan, directs Dutch Fisher restoration study

The Town of Waynesville council on a voice vote approved a two-track approach to restore youth softball after widespread public comment about damage to Dutch Fisher Field following Hurricane Helene. Council members approved a lower-cost renovation of an alternate municipal field to create a girls softball venue at an estimated cost of $350,000 and directed staff to develop firm cost estimates for restoring Dutch Fisher Field in its existing footprint.

Why it matters: Dutch Fisher has been the primary girls softball field for Mountaineer Little League for decades, and the community, coaches and parents told the council that continuing repairs are needed to avoid losing the league. The council and staff said work must balance rapid re-opening for spring play with federal reimbursement rules and longer-term flood-resilience requirements that can raise project costs sharply.

Dozens of residents spoke during public comment about the field’s role in the community. “How can we not fund our girls?” said Ashley Nesbitt, a resident who described the field as central to local girls’ sports and civic life. Mountaineer Little League volunteers and past coaches urged quick action to preserve the program and the field’s legacy.

Luke, the town’s parks and recreation director, briefed the council with consultants on a two-part plan: a shorter-term conversion of an existing field (presented as the lower-cost option) and a larger, FEMA-focused rebuild at Dutch Fisher that would meet floodplain and accessibility requirements. The design team and town staff said the larger rebuild is intended to make the site more flood resilient by rotating the field, relocating structures out of the floodway, installing field drainage, and rebuilding restrooms and concession infrastructure to current codes and ADA requirements.

Cost estimates presented to the council included a forecast of about $3.1 million to rebuild Dutch Fisher Field with flood-resilient improvements, roughly $2.2 million to renovate Vance Street Field, and a combined estimate of about $5.4 million to do both projects together. The lower-cost conversion proposed to let softball resume sooner was presented as an estimated $350,000 project that would avoid the larger flood-resilient construction at Dutch Fisher and could deliver a playable girls field more quickly.

Consultants and staff stressed that FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) reimbursement is a reimbursement program: work must be completed before reimbursement can occur, and FEMA told the town that, in some cases, it may fund up to 100 percent of the restoration value if the rebuilt facility is made flood resilient. Rob, the staff member coordinating with FEMA, told the council the town has been waiting months for FEMA to supply restoration values; those values determine how much PA money the agency might provide.

Volunteers and local donors have already contributed to repairs: Little League organizers said community-led fundraising and in-kind work have produced roughly $150,000 in donations and effort on prior projects, and staff said Dick’s Sporting Goods will present a $50,000 check toward Dutch Fisher Field at a future meeting. Fence replacement and lighting were highlighted as immediate needs — council discussion named a $60,000 figure for a new fence and noted the town’s electric department could help install lights to lower contract costs.

The council approved a motion that, as amended during debate, (1) move forward with renovating the lower-cost field option so girls can have a place to play in the near term at an estimated $350,000, and (2) renovate Dutch Fisher Park in its same pre-flood footprint after town staff bring back detailed cost estimates for that restoration. The motion passed on a voice vote.

What’s next: Staff will return with detailed cost estimates for restoring Dutch Fisher in its existing footprint and with a schedule and budget for the lower-cost conversion so the town can aim to reopen a girls softball field for spring play. Staff also said they would continue FEMA coordination to seek reimbursement and explore options to reduce scope and cost (for example, removing a press box or limiting lighting) should bids exceed the current estimates.

The council’s decision preserves Dutch Fisher as an asset while giving the softball league an interim field and directing staff to pursue a path that balances speed, community needs and federal requirements.