Arnie Burke, president of the Garland Softball Association, told the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board that the league drew about 1,620 adult participants across 135 teams this year and remains active at the Jerry Carter complex in south Garland.

"We had a total number of participants this year and 1,620 players. This is all adult 18 and above," Burke said, noting the league runs four seasons — spring, summer 1, summer 2 and fall — and is sanctioned by the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA).

Burke told board members the league's numbers have declined since the 1980s, when local organizers ran several weekly tournaments and as many as 400 teams across two seasons. Today, typical season counts range from about 31 to 37 teams per season; the league's largest event this year hosted 46 teams in June under a rental coordinated by Carlos Perez and Chicano Sports.

Burke said league operations are largely volunteer-driven and rely on city field maintenance. "The city, Jared and them have been providing us usually on the tournament day... the guys I've sent out there have just worked their tails off," he said, praising Parks staff for field support.

The association is exploring program changes aimed at boosting participation and improving the player experience. Burke proposed adding a fifth, late-year season focused on fun play and experimenting with a 250-foot, temporary-fence "arena" format to make games more accessible and reduce scheduling pressure. "I wanna have a fall season or a second fall season where they come out and basically have a fun experience," he said.

Board members asked about turf versus natural grass. Burke and others said many teams prefer turf because games can proceed after rain, but they also noted injury concerns and extreme heat on synthetic surfaces. Burke said his experience and that of some league members favors natural turf for safety and comfort.

The presentation closed with questions about outreach and scheduling. Burke said most recruitment is word-of-mouth, supplemented by listings in the city RecBeat program guide and the league's website and regional USSSA tournament pages.

Board members thanked Burke for the overview and agreed staff and league organizers should continue coordinating on field maintenance and scheduling.