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Parks board approves seasonal tournaments, clinics and community events; beer garden permitted for July 3
Summary
At its March 24 meeting the Hendersonville Parks and Recreation Board approved dozens of park uses for the spring and summer season — including youth and adult tournaments, community fundraisers and a ticketed beer garden on July 3 — and granted a small number of scholarships and in-kind commitments tied to guest programs.
The Hendersonville Parks and Recreation Board on March 24 approved a slate of event and program applications for spring and summer 2025, ranging from youth baseball showcases and fishing tournaments to a ticketed Independence Day beer garden.
The approvals clear park reservations, insurance and operational details for multiple organizers and included at least one amendment requiring in-kind or scholarship commitments from visiting organizations. Board members moved and seconded each item during the public meeting; all recorded motions passed.
Among the events approved were:
- A National Youth Baseball Showcase presented by Wow Factor Baseball. Justin Smith, of Greensboro, North Carolina, told the board Wow Factor has run national weekends at IMG Academy and USA Baseball Complexes and expects “probably anywhere from 50 to 250 kids” for an August showcase. The board approved use of four to five fields; staff agreed to connect Smith with the county tourism director to coordinate local hotel information.
- An ABC trade-association fishing tournament to raise funds for a construction training facility that serves high-school students. Clay Crownover and Alex Lang said proceeds would support hands-on trades training; the board approved the request.
- A Civitan tackle-football preseason tournament proposed by Ricky Mallard to be held Aug. 2–3 at Drakes Creek and Memorial Park fields. Mallard described prior tournaments that generated roughly $44,000 in revenue, including about $20,000 from concessions, and said he expects about 1,600 spectator visits across two days; the board approved the event.
- A youth baseball weekend by Wow Factor (separate presenter listing), with a request to donate to the local HHS dugout club; board members confirmed the club donation would be part of the arrangement and approved the request.
- A street-soccer (Futtbar) program run by Rachel Masterson that will operate weekly pickup sessions on hard-surface courts. Masterson said her Nashville-based group has about 2,500 members and charges $6 per person per session, with a proposed $1–$2 per-person donation back to a local nonprofit (the board specified donations be directed to Mary’s Magical Place and approved the program, with exact location to be set with parks staff).
- A North American Rugby Academy clinic hosted by Daniel Griff and affiliated with the International Rugby Academy of New Zealand. The board approved a modified agreement: instead of a monetary donation the visiting coaches will provide two scholarships for two players and two coaches from the city (the waiver of the donation and the scholarship exchange were approved by motion).
- An Eagle Scout kiosk and bench at Mallard Point Park proposed by Patrick Golden, approved by the board.
- The T.P. Double S A (senior) softball tournament proposed by Matt Barnes, which organizers said would bring about 500 people and produce hotel-night demand; the board approved the application and organizers agreed to make a 10% monetary donation and consider donating unused new softballs to the city.
- A 5K “Stop the Bleed” fundraiser organized by Kennedy Toban of TriStar Hendersonville, proposed for May 24 to raise money for hemorrhage control kits for Sumner County schools; the board approved the event and staff confirmed routing and logistics will be contained in the park.
- An Independence Day ticketed beer garden proposed by Backyard Brewing for July 3 at La Crosse Field in Memorial Park. Nathan Newton said the event would cap attendance at 1,000, use arm bands/ticketing (Eventbrite) and hire Sumner County sheriff deputies plus private security; the board approved the reservation and noted the organizer will follow beer-board permitting.
- Smash Alzheimer’s pickleball tournament (May 10) presented by Brooke Bickerstaff of Charter Senior Living; approved.
- A Christmas-for-Kids duck race application was postponed by the applicant due to an unresolved legal question about gaming; the board recorded that the applicant will revisit the request next year.
- A cricket club request from “Mac” (Mac Vias) to reserve Saturdays for a casual Sumner County Cricket Club. The board approved the program designation with the condition the group work with parks staff on weekly location and time; staff noted insurance will be required.
Several other routine event requests were approved during the meeting, including youth and adult league schedules and facility reservations for camps and tournaments already underway.
Votes at a glance (actions recorded during the meeting): Most motions were passed by voice vote with no recorded nay votes. Where a mover and seconder were stated on the record, the transcript records included the names given during the meeting. Motions were recorded as approved unless the transcript flagged a postponement or a specific amendment (for example, the NARA scholarship amendment).
Board members and staff who spoke during approvals included multiple board members (recorded in minutes as Mister Golden, Mister Head, Mister Perry, Mister Bennett, Miss Hellman, Miss Rafford/Rafferty) and parks staff (Assistant Director Dallas Long; Recreation staff Miss Hamlin; Maintenance Mister Cole; Director Miss Skelly). Applicants and presenters who addressed the board included Justin Smith (Wow Factor Baseball), Clay Crownover and Alex Lang (ABC/fishing tournament), Ricky Mallard (Hendersonville tackle football), Rachel Masterson (Futtbar street soccer), Daniel Griff and Tom Brennan (North American Rugby Academy), Patrick Golden (Eagle Scout), Matt Barnes (senior softball), Kennedy Toban (TriStar Hendersonville), Nathan Newton (Backyard Brewing), Brooke Bickerstaff (Smash Alzheimer’s), and Mac Vias (cricket).
The board directed applicants to follow standard permitting, provide insurance certificates where required, and coordinate final scheduling and logistics with parks staff. A small number of approvals included specific conditions — for example, the rugby clinic’s substitution of scholarships for a monetary donation and the street-soccer donation routing to Mary’s Magical Place.
The meeting’s public-application approvals clear most key weekend dates for spring and summer events; multiple presenters noted expected hotel-night demand and local economic benefits tied to larger tournaments. The board’s next regular meeting will take up any follow-ups from staff coordination and outstanding permitting items.
