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Scurry County court drops public fees for park fields after debate over volunteer coaches and school access
Summary
After extended discussion and public comment from a local girls-fastpitch representative, Scurry County Commissioners moved to eliminate general-public fees for use of Winston Field and North Park; the court recorded the decision by voice and did not provide a roll-call tally.
Scurry County Commissioners voted by voice to eliminate general-public charges for practice and informal use of county baseball and softball fields, after a lengthy debate that included commissioners and public commenters about volunteer coaches, maintenance costs and school access.
The court revisited a prior motion that had directed fields to be free for practice in 2024 and to carry a $20-per-hour charge in 2025. During discussion Speaker 3 argued that volunteer coaches provide community value and that routine practice should not be charged, while Speaker 4 noted the county had collected about $1,610 year-to-date on Winston Field and North Park and cautioned that upkeep imposes staff time and expense.
In public comment, Hogan, speaking for the local Girls Fastpitch nonprofit, urged the court to consider designating Winston Field as a home site for Snyder ISD or otherwise ensuring the county league adequate access. Hogan said the ISD’s use of multiple fields at another complex has limited local league opportunities and described the nonprofit’s contributions to field upkeep and concession operations.
Commissioners and commenters raised infrastructure constraints: under UIL rules a school’s use can lock an entire complex, and installing lights at Winston Park was estimated by participants to cost in the low hundreds of thousands of dollars. The court discussed temporary options such as using Winston Park for daytime play and accepting donated bleachers from another facility.
A motion to eliminate fees for general public use (while preserving scheduling and league distinctions) was made and seconded; Presiding official (Speaker 1) called for the ayes and the court proceeded by voice. The transcript does not record a numerical vote tally or named roll-call. The court also directed staff to refine any scheduling or policy details to reflect the decision.
The item grew out of concerns that charging volunteers or ad-hoc community users could harm volunteer-run youth sports and reduce access for neighborhood children. The court signaled willingness to revisit fee or maintenance policy if costs or vandalism materially increased.
