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Parents and youth lacrosse press board over planned field closures; district cites safety and regrowth needs
Summary
Representatives from Baldwin Youth Lacrosse urged clearer communication and district support after an email said some fields will be closed next spring. Administration said heavy wear and limited growing season motivated recommended closure of two borough fields, and facilities staff described core sampling and drain inspections for the softball field.
Two representatives from Baldwin Youth Lacrosse told the board they were alarmed by an email indicating some district fields would be closed next spring and asked for clearer reasons and support with permitting and scheduling.
“My name is Amber Haynes…we received an email yesterday saying that some of the fields are going to be closed this spring. That’s very hard on us,” Haynes said during resident comments, asking that the district provide specifics about which fields and why they will be closed.
Kristen Goss, treasurer of Baldwin Youth Lacrosse, reiterated the request and asked what support the district would offer as teams compete for the remaining fields. “Now that we are losing not one but two fields during spring sports season, we’re all going to be vying for those fields that are left over,” she said.
Administration told the board it recommended closing third-party permits for Whitehall and Harrison fields to allow regrowth and protect long-term field viability; middle-school softball would be allowed to continue on a limited basis. Facilities staff said field wear patterns and a dry late summer reduced turf resilience and left certain areas unsafe for heavy spring usage.
Facilities staff are conducting core samples on the softball infield to determine whether excavation and replacement are required and plan to have a contractor scope suspected collapsed outfield drains to identify remediation needs. The district acknowledged the communication could have been clearer and said it would work with user groups on scheduling, possible alternate spaces (LES, McAnulty, high-school lighted field) and longer-term options including turf — while noting turf involves stormwater and regulatory costs.
Board members thanked youth-sports representatives for raising concerns and said staff will continue to talk with community groups as decisions are finalized. No vote to permanently close fields was reported at the meeting; the matter remains an ongoing operational decision.
