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Elkhart parks board adopts $25-per-hour youth softball practice fee, approves multiple summer contracts
Summary
On May 19, 2026, the Elkhart City Board of Parks and Recreation unanimously approved a new hourly rental rate for youth softball practices — $25 per hour with a two-hour minimum and a $15 lights fee — and approved several entertainment and service contracts as staff outlined summer programming and communications upgrades.
The Elkhart City Board of Parks and Recreation on Tuesday voted unanimously to amend its 2026 fee schedule to allow hourly rentals for youth softball practice fields at $25 per hour with a two-hour minimum and a $15 fee for field lighting during evening use.
Assistant Superintendent Nathan Cain told the board the change responds to community feedback that the previous practice pricing — a $300 two-hour rate under the existing structure — was prohibitive for some youth coaches. "This makes it affordable, opens up revenue opportunities for us as a department, but really makes the fields more accessible for youth practices," Cain said.
Board members moved quickly through a slate of other items aimed at preparing the city for summer operations. The board approved by voice vote terms of service for a broadcast/notification software that staff said will let programs send voicemail and text alerts to parents and guardians; the software was reviewed by IT and legal. The board also approved a memorandum of understanding with Yoga Mystic to host yoga sessions in parks (provider supplies equipment; revenue split discussed), and several entertainment contracts for summer events, including Party Foul as the July 4 headliner and performances booked for the Rhapsody Arts & Music Festival.
Votes at a glance (all actions recorded by the board at the May 19 meeting): agenda approval (unanimous); minutes of May 6 (unanimous); financial claims totaling $55,251.90 (unanimous); fee schedule amendment to permit hourly softball practice rentals (unanimous); approval of Slide broadcast notification software terms (unanimous); Yoga Mystic MOU (unanimous); Party Foul entertainment contract for July 4 (unanimous); Mike Keagle performers contract for three farmers market dates (approved with amended contract wording); Daryl Buchanan contract for Rhapsody (unanimous); Doublewide Ride opening band contract for July 4 (unanimous); McNaughton Park vehicle access permit for a veteran organizer (unanimous); Church in the Park permit at Island Park (unanimous); redemption worship night permit (tabled to June). The meeting adjourned by voice vote.
The board and staff framed the fee change as a targeted measure to reduce barriers for youth sports while covering on-site staff costs to open and supervise fields. Cain said the hourly rate is intended to cover staffing costs associated with unlocking, supervising and ensuring reserved-field use.
The amendment takes effect immediately for reservations made under the Parks Department systems. The board did not identify a projected revenue estimate for the new fee during the meeting; staff said only that the change reflects an identified local need and potential interest from a youth softball group at Riverview.
