Parents, coaches press Carteret County commissioners for more youth-sports fields

Dozens of parents, coaches and volunteer organizers urged the Carteret County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 17 to plan and fund more athletic fields for youth sports, saying existing facilities are at capacity and limiting local tournament and travel-team opportunities.

Speakers said rising participation in Little League, travel baseball, girls softball and soccer has outpaced available fields at Swinson Park and other local sites. "We have just loaded up the fields," said Shelley Odom, a Morehead City Little League board member and family physician, describing crowded practices and an inability to meet current demand. "We're already seeing more kids interested in playing this year in those younger divisions than we have in previous years, but yet we have less field availability."

The public comments came during the meeting's public-comment period and drew multiple speakers representing Morehead City Little League, Seashore Soccer League and travel-ball teams. "If you build it, they will come," Amy Wiborski said, citing national spending on youth sports. "This past year, American families have spent more than a combined $30,000,000,000 in youth sports." Chuck Linder, president of Morehead City Little League, described a loss of older community fields over decades and urged the county and municipalities to meet with user groups to identify land and design a long-term plan. "Would it be feasible to gather the user groups in a formal setting to sit down and gather their input?" he asked.

Several speakers gave concrete figures and local details: Little League expects 25 to 28 teams this year, while a second softball season could bring three to four teams and stretches practice capacity to the limit. Holly Honeycutt, a Little League and Seashore Soccer League board member, said the Big Rock Foundation has provided more than $280,000 in three grants that funded renovations at Swinson Park and that an $83,000 grant was recently awarded to improve batting cages and other field repairs. Even with private grants and volunteer labor, multiple speakers said the county needs additional land or renovated sites to host district and travel tournaments that bring significant hotel and restaurant revenue.

Commissioners acknowledged the concerns and said they will pursue follow-up. "I am going to dedicate myself to be a part of whatever I can do to make the county more accessible, with fields and athletic events," Commissioner Walter said. County staff and commissioners said they would follow up with user groups and explore options including renovation of existing fields, intergovernmental coordination with the towns of Morehead City and Atlantic Beach, and potential joint public-private projects. At one point the board asked staff to follow up directly with organizers to determine how many additional fields would be needed and what type of land would be suitable.

Speakers also noted the economic case for facilities: tournament weekends draw dozens of teams and families from outside the area, producing hotel and restaurant revenue during shoulder seasons. Several speakers pointed to comparable privately funded complexes in nearby counties as models.

The commissioners did not vote on a policy or funding commitment at the Feb. 17 meeting. Instead they instructed staff to continue discussions with the leagues and to return with options. The board also thanked volunteers and acknowledged recent local awards to parks staff for youth programs.

Looking ahead, the board asked county staff to compile specific needs (number and types of fields, likely locations, rough cost estimates) and to convene user groups and municipal partners for a formal planning meeting.