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Parents press North Babylon board to fix unsafe baseball, softball fields after student injury
Summary
Multiple parents urged the North Babylon UFSD board to prioritize long-term repairs for baseball and softball fields, citing drainage problems, uneven surfaces and a recent student injury; the superintendent said about $200,000 is in the proposed budget for drainage work but no firm timeline was provided.
Several parents and community members told the North Babylon Union Free School District board on April 21 that long-standing drainage and maintenance problems on the district’s baseball and softball fields have created unsafe playing conditions and disrupt teams that must travel for practices and games.
"Our children deserve better," said Kim Ko, asking the district to treat all sports equitably. Parent Kelly Walsh described a recent injury: "On opening day, my son... it came up. It hit him in the face. I think it's broken. You need to go to the hospital." She said her son did not require surgery but that the incident reflected unsafe field conditions, and that teams routinely travel 40–45 minutes for practices because the home fields are unplayable after rain.
Parent Janet Tobber Garcia said the community submitted a petition in May 2024 asking for an evaluation of the fields and presented photos of the damaged surfaces; she urged the board to provide a clear plan and timeline. Speakers described uneven surfaces, divots, poor drainage and unstable bleachers that they said create safety risks.
Dr. Graham acknowledged the concerns and said the 2026–27 proposed budget includes approximately $200,000 to address drainage on both fields as an incremental step. He also said the district is exploring options that could include a future bond but that he could not provide an immediate prioritization timetable. Board members and administrators noted other infrastructure needs across district facilities that are being weighed in bond discussions.
Parents asked for long-term maintenance and for the district to prioritize safety rather than temporary fixes. The public comments ended without a board pledge of an immediate timeline; board members said the matter is under discussion and would be included in broader capital planning.
