Residents urge commission to delay Alameda Little League MOU for Little John Park

Several neighbors told the Alameda Recreation and Parks Commission that Little John Park is too small to host 10–12-year-old Alameda Little League play and asked the commission to delay or reject a proposed memorandum of understanding that could grant the league exclusive use.

Jay Ingram, introduced as a former AGSA board member, said the park already hosts younger Little League players and that changes over the last nine months have “greatly impacted the use” of the neighborhood park. “I feel strongly that Alameda Little League didn't negotiate in good faith with the city,” he said, arguing that the neighborhood uses the park as dedicated open space and that exclusive use would undermine parkland dedication fees and neighbors’ access.

Jill Ingram, who said she supports Little League for younger children, told commissioners that the minors have historically been a good fit but that the majors division does not appear to be. She raised safety concerns about drivers parking in red zones during games and asked the city to continue door-to-door notification to ensure nearby residents receive meeting notices and proposals.

Director Justin Long told commissioners the department is working with Little League and that staff expect to bring the MOU back to the commission for a fuller discussion at the June meeting, allowing time to consider alternate locations and gather neighborhood input.

The commission did not vote on the MOU at this meeting; public commenters urged that the league go through the department’s established field-allocation process rather than receiving exclusive use of a pocket park.

The commission’s next meeting is scheduled for June 11, 2026, and staff said the Little League MOU will be a listed agenda item then.