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Residents urge Willoughby leaders to fix aging baseball fields; mayor to meet with league
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Summary
Residents told the Willoughby City Council that nine of 10 youth baseball fields are in visible disrepair and are deterring visiting tournaments; Mayor Fiala said he will meet with league representatives and Parks Director Keller to produce a prioritized costed plan before the capital budget.
Dozens of Willoughby residents told the City Council on Feb. 17 that the city’s youth baseball facilities have deteriorated and need urgent repairs.
Chris O'Brien, who said he has lived in Willoughby for 31 years, presented a packet of winter photographs and described rusted fencing, failing backstops and a mudslide-affected field he described as “inaccessible.” O'Brien, who noted Willoughby Baseball is celebrating its 75th anniversary, estimated tournament attendance and weekly participation and said visiting teams have begun to complain about the facilities. “It’s embarrassing,” he said, adding that tournaments bring visitors who support local businesses.
Other residents supported O'Brien. Bridget Thomas said frequent game cancellations because fields remained flooded after rain have been disruptive for children and working parents and said she would back funding to improve fields. Melissa Lovestick urged replacement of large street trees removed at Lincoln Park to provide shade near soccer fields. Rich Zurga reported that Nason Park has accumulated construction debris and illegal dumping and urged the City to secure and clean the basin; Dennis Quigney asked for clarity about renewed discussion of an amphitheater and worried concerts could conflict with busy tournament weekends.
Mayor Robert Fiala responded that he and Parks & Recreation Director Keller will meet with O'Brien to review the requested improvements and prepare a priority list with estimated costs and possible cost-sharing to bring back to Council before the capital budget process. The mayor said street trees along Lincoln Park can be included in the city’s street tree program but cautioned they “won’t be 30 feet tall.”
Parks Director Keller thanked residents for their input and said the City supports the program. The mayor’s commitment to meet with league representatives establishes a next procedural step; Council did not vote on specific funding during the meeting.
Background: O'Brien provided attendance estimates (for example, roughly 2,400 visitors per week during the regular season, about 4,200 for the Rebel Rouser weekend, and roughly 6,400–7,600 for girls’ tournaments). Those figures were offered as his estimates and described to Council as illustrative of the tournaments’ economic draw; Council did not adopt or verify the numbers at the meeting.
The Council is scheduled to consider capital budget items in March; the mayor said the prioritized list from his meeting with residents and staff will inform that process.