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After contentious public debate, Manatee commissioners approve Country Club East Little League fields
Summary
Following hours of testimony from neighbors and youth‑sports supporters, the board approved a guaranteed maximum price addendum to build three Little League fields at Country Club East. Commissioners cited growth-driven demand for youth fields; nearby residents warned of late-night lights, noise, wetlands impacts and traffic.
Manatee County commissioners voted 5–1 on March 3 to approve a GMP addendum to construct three Little League fields at Country Club East Park, a project staff said is needed to serve a fast‑growing youth population in the Lakewood Ranch area.
Molly White, director of Sports and Leisure Services, told the board the county owns about 15 acres at Country Club East and that growth since 2020 has pushed local leagues beyond capacity. The proposed design would keep playgrounds and passive park space while adding three smaller fields sized for players ages 4–13 and modern, downward‑focused LED lighting.
The project drew intense public comment. Neighbors said late hours, bright LED spillage, proximity to wetlands, noise levels and traffic for tournaments would harm neighborhood character and wildlife. “Placing a high‑intensity late‑night sports facility just mere inches from wetlands and only a few hundred feet from existing homes will obliterate the tranquility of the area,” one resident said.
Youth‑sports leaders, parents and coaches described long waiting lists and late practice schedules and urged the board to build fields now. Alan Dolha, Lakewood Ranch Little League president, and other proponents stressed that careful design (buffers, focused fixtures, scheduling and traffic management) can limit impacts while providing space for growing youth programs.
Commissioner Cruz, who moved approval, emphasized that the county is behind on field capacity and that the proposed installation was designed to minimize spill and community disruption. Commissioner McCann cast the lone dissenting vote; he said he supported youth sports but questioned whether the county had examined all alternative sites and decried the adversarial tenor of the debate.
The motion passed 5–1 with McCann opposed. The board directed staff to continue coordination on lighting plans, buffers and traffic management as the project proceeds.
What’s next: staff will finalize the GMP addendum and proceed to the construction phase; project details including final lighting specifications, parking adjustments and wetland buffers will be brought back to the board as designs are refined.
