Mayor Pro Tem Tony Singh introduced a proposal to make modest improvements to a roughly 4.5‑acre unimproved parcel south of Marion Field at the Lakeside Sports Complex so it would be more playable for cricket and other casual recreation. Singh said he hoped modest leveling could bring more weekend visitors to the lakefront and local businesses; he emphasized no permanent concrete pitch or irrigation was intended for now.

Staff described the site as "primitive and unimproved": uneven ground, no irrigation, limited parking (only the area between the Colin Powell Center and the Admin Building), and seasonal tractor mowing. Chad (staff) said the parcel is part of a 25‑year lease with the local independent school district that began in 2020 and that the ISD retains rights to reclaim property with reimbursement for capital improvements.

Staff and council discussed risks of making permanent improvements before the Lakeside master plan is completed; Dunaway (the planning consultant) is under contract and staff estimated a roughly six‑month master‑plan process if started next fiscal year. Chad cautioned that designating a permanent use now could lead to work being undone if future planning calls for a different layout. The group also noted fire‑lane overflow parking problems during tournaments and the presence of multiple users on other leased fields.

Council discussed funding options and maintenance implications. Staff indicated a low‑cost feasibility estimate could be prepared using staff time (no town funds required to produce the cost estimate), but that more extensive improvements requiring fill material, hydroseeding and potential irrigation could be expensive; a staff speaker noted a more comprehensive upgrade could run on the order of $100,000. Council members clarified they did not want staff placed in the position of implementing a council member’s private project without political direction.

Council directed staff to perform a feasibility study and provide a ballpark cost estimate for modest leveling and surfacing to reduce rough terrain and improve safety for informal play; no funding was committed and no exclusive use or permit changes were approved. Staff said the study would include contractor input and consider parking, drainage, maintenance implications and lease constraints.