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Cleveland council tables sports‑park changes after hours of public comment; Active Net plan to be refined
Summary
After lengthy public comment from youth‑sports leaders, the Cleveland City Council voted to table changes to municipal park rentals and directed staff to return in December with a concrete plan for an Active Net reservation system and an interim contract so this season can proceed.
Dozens of parents, coaches and volunteers urged the Cleveland City Council on Tuesday to preserve access to the Municipal Park for youth sports, saying a pending shift to an online reservation and fee system would threaten seasons for hundreds of children.
"CYBSA depends on our league serves over 400 children in our community," said Cheyenne King, a teacher and parent, during public comment. Speakers from Cleveland Youth Baseball and Softball Association (CYBSA), Cleveland Community Football and other volunteer organizations described the park as the primary place where young people find mentorship and stability.
City staff and council members said the council’s goal is to create a fair, objective system for multiple users. City Manager Lee Tipton explained the Active Net software under consideration would let any user reserve fields a la carte; he told the meeting the software vendor could have a build‑out live in about a month if the council approves the configuration presented to the parks advisory board.
Council members also acknowledged the need for short‑term certainty. Council agreed to ask staff to bring back a narrowly scoped contract through May — long enough for the current season and sign‑ups — while officials finish the Active Net configuration and an a la carte pricing menu. Councilmember Rachel Hall made the motion to table the item until the December 9 meeting; the motion passed unanimously.
CYBSA board members and coaches said the league has absorbed maintenance costs and paid for emergency repairs out of pocket, and that new deposits and billing proposals would be difficult for low‑income families. "We have never minded putting in time, resources, and effort to make this part the best it can be," said Savannah Cunningham, who noted the league operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Council and staff emphasized an intent to avoid excluding local leagues. Mayor Danny Lee said the council intends to keep fees "very, very minimum at best" for local groups and to give discounts or codes to recognized local nonprofits. Parks advisory board members and staff will return with a contract proposal and Active Net pricing options at the December meeting.
Next steps: staff will produce an interim contract to cover the current season through May, present Active Net pricing/options and a proposed discount approach for local nonprofits at the December 9 council meeting.
