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Council hears proposal for Build Better Fields to invest $100,000 in Hillside Park fields
Summary
An outside nonprofit, Build Better Fields, proposed leasing and investing $100,000 to upgrade two baseball fields at Hillside Park, preserving Sam Jethro Field’s name and existing permits for a specially-abled team; councilors expressed support and asked staff to preserve scheduling and access for the public.
A presenter described a proposed lease with Build Better Fields, a 501(c)(3) that raised private funds to upgrade youth baseball fields in Mill Creek. The group proposed investing $100,000 to renovate two fields at Hillside Park (including Sam Jethro Field) under a lease that would preserve the city’s right of first refusal and written scheduling priorities that keep some weekend access public.
The presenter said Build Better Fields would take over maintenance, seating scheduling and upkeep in exchange for making capital improvements; the city would retain the right of first refusal and could specify that weekends or certain days remain open to public use. “They have a $100,000 to invest in the 2 fields up there,” the presenter said.
Council and community speakers emphasized historical connections and prioritized protections for existing user groups. A council speaker noted that permits for the specially abled team would remain in place: “Those permits will stay. Their schedule will stay. That was absolutely a priority for everyone,” the speaker said. Other councilors and residents urged that field names and accessibility be preserved and that community groups, including youth and disabled athletes, retain priority access.
Why it matters: The proposal would bring private investment into city recreation infrastructure and remove mowing/maintenance from the city contract, but councilors sought explicit guarantees that historic names, priority permits and public access would be protected.
What happens next: Council discussed drafting a lease that preserves city scheduling rights and special permits; staff said they will work with the nonprofit on terms and bring a formal agreement back to council.
