Lenox board reviews baseball/softball survey, explores short-term field fixes and partnerships

Lenox Parks & Recreation reviewed survey results from its baseball and softball programs and spent much of the meeting discussing field availability, short-term fixes and potential partnerships with nearby facilities.

Christie, Lenox Parks & Recreation director, presented the survey of 34 respondents: 11 softball, 19 baseball and 13 t‑ball participants; 11 respondents identified themselves as coaches. The packet showed coaches and parents were largely satisfied with staff support (90% satisfied or very satisfied) and with program structure (73% satisfied or very satisfied), but respondents raised recurring concerns about field availability, communication and tournament-team scheduling.

"We had 34 people respond," Christie said while summarizing the coach and participant feedback. The most common requests were more field time, clearer communication about last-minute location changes and better coordination for players who participate on both recreational and tournament teams. Several respondents said field conditions were inconsistent; 54% said field conditions met or exceeded expectations while 45% rated conditions below expectations, with comments about longer grass on the softball field and ruts in foul territory on the baseball field.

Board members discussed practical short-term options while awaiting a master park plan. Multiple speakers observed that the town’s t‑ball field could be adapted for more practices or for some 8U games with relatively modest work. Suggestions included installing sprinklers and new nets and improving grass; one board member said the t‑ball field has fewer drainage problems than the softball field and might be easier to bring to usable condition. Members also discussed using Chancellor Field for scheduled practices or occasional games and said staff have opened preliminary contact with a point of contact there.

The board also reported conversations with Worthing City Hall about borrowing field time on two weeknights; Christie said Worthing currently underused its fields and that negotiation could provide additional practice or game time. Members noted potential constraints: lighting for night games is expensive, and any significant capital work should be informed by the town’s upcoming master park plan.

Christie said Parks & Recreation is pursuing grants focused on girls’ sports and other funding sources that could cover a large portion of short-term improvements if the board decides to pursue them. She asked the board whether they wanted staff to pursue grant applications and conduct more on-site assessments of the t‑ball and Chancellor fields; the board agreed to further investigation and to add field-use options to a future agenda.

Ending: Staff will investigate short-term field upgrades (sprinklers, netting, drainage) and partnerships with Chancellor Field and Worthing and return with cost estimates and grant options to a future Parks & Recreation meeting.