Eastern Utah Softball asks Price City for more field time; council to coordinate scheduling

Torrey Nelson, president of Eastern Utah Softball, told the Price City Council on April 23 that the nonprofit needs increased access to Price City ballfields for a growing girls’ program and asked the city to allow use of four fields, some with lighting, for a fall league.

Nelson said the organization, in its fourth season, runs fall leagues and spring clinics for girls ages 6–18 and has drawn between about 130 and 200 participants. “As our program continues to grow, we are faced with new challenges and our biggest concern right now is field time,” Nelson said.

Nelson described the group’s current activities and plans: a fall season (typically August through October), spring clinics focused on fundamentals, an all‑stars travel team, and two annual tournaments the group has helped bring to Carbon County. Historically the program used two fairgrounds fields from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., four days a week, plus one field at Atwood and South Park; Nelson said the fall schedule will increasingly require lights as daylight shortens.

City staff told council members the county charged about $50 per hour per field under a quoted rate but offers a 90% youth discount. Nelson said, after the discount and the hours used last season, the cost would still be about $800 — roughly equal to a full registration fee for 15–16 athletes.

Robbie, a Price City parks staff member, said he did not see a problem with the request but recommended a meeting between the parties to reconcile schedules with existing leagues, including local Babe Ruth play and a team referred to as Pinnacle. “I really don’t see a problem with it. I still think we should have a conversation with both parties involved with the fields,” Robbie said.

Council members expressed support for Eastern Utah Softball and agreed to coordinate a meeting. Nelson was asked to work with Robbie to schedule a meeting that would include representatives from other leagues and the city to identify field assignments and limit conflicts; council members also volunteered to participate in the coordination.

No formal ordinance or fee change was proposed or voted on at the meeting. The council’s action was to have staff and stakeholders meet to resolve scheduling and to pursue options that avoid raising registration fees.

The council’s discussion noted an interest in ensuring equitable field access for girls and boys programs and in continuing conversations with the high school and other partners about maximizing field usage.