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Committee approves Little League camera and streaming pilot at Burgess Field
Summary
The Park and Recreation Committee unanimously approved a Little League proposal to install a temporary, tamper‑resistant camera and streaming setup at Burgess Field to broadcast scheduled games; the league will provide equipment and pay costs, staff will coordinate siting and rules for limited broadcasting.
At the April meeting of the Atherton Park and Recreation Committee, members voted to authorize a temporary camera and streaming trial at Burgess Field proposed by the local Little League.
Matt, a volunteer and longtime Little League board member, told the panel the league has grown to roughly 350 players for the spring season and uses Burgess regularly. To help families and coaches the league asked to mount a weatherproof Axis Communications camera in a tamper‑resistant box and to use an internet link (Starlink or cellular fallback) to stream games to YouTube for coaching and family access. "We need like six megabits per second up," Matt said, describing cellular connectivity at Burgess as unreliable and the main technical barrier.
The presentation included details of the proposed kit, a plan to limit streaming to scheduled games and selected events, and operational safeguards: recordings would be controlled by the league, staff would work with the league on siting and mounting options (pole vs. shed), and the league said the town would not bear equipment costs. The presenter said the camera unit itself costs in the neighborhood of $2,000 and that the town’s share would be zero if the committee signs off.
Committee members asked operational questions about power, vandalism, and audio capture. The league said the camera housing is rugged and that the system can be disabled when not in use; it also acknowledged that on‑field microphones can capture some in‑stand sound and that the league plans to limit non‑game streaming. Staff noted they will review exact siting and routing of any cables to avoid damage to park surfaces.
Following discussion, a member moved to allow the proposed installation and the motion passed with all members voting in favor and no nays or abstentions. Staff were directed to coordinate the final installation details with the league and the city manager’s office.
The committee’s action was a limited authorization for the pilot; any longer‑term or town‑funded installations will require further review or council approval, as needed. The league said it would monitor the trial and work with staff to address any privacy, sound or connectivity issues that arise.
