Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission keeps Sunday baseball at Jack Russell Park, opts against Sunday restrictions for ABAA
Summary
After months of dispute, the Atlantic Beach City Commission voted 4–1 to allow Atlantic Beach Athletic Association (ABAA) Sunday play to continue without the staff-recommended restriction that would have barred out-of-jurisdiction teams before 1:30 p.m.; commissioners directed staff to pursue hybrid and management options for the Farmers Market and park operations.
The Atlantic Beach City Commission on Feb. 23 voted 4–1 to approve staff’s Option 2 on Resolution 26-36, preserving Sunday play at Jack Russell Park for Atlantic Beach Athletic Association programming, including occasional all‑star games and practices.
The vote followed more than an hour of public comment and commission debate over parking, vendor counts, and how the Jack Russell Farmers Market and youth baseball programs can co-exist. Kelly Hampton, ABAA president, told the commission that all‑star teams need occasional Sunday time to host intercity competition and that limiting Sunday play to after 1:30 p.m. would effectively eliminate meaningful all‑star schedules: “If you put that at 1:30, now you’re at 3 p.m. for the second game and you can’t reasonably host the doubleheaders many teams require,” Hampton said.
Pastor Nathan Lowen, vice president of ABAA and a neighborhood resident, urged compromise and noted ABAA’s long-standing relationship with staff: “We are not asking to take the park every Sunday; we need flexibility for practices and the limited number of early Sunday games that support the season.” Mayor Ford and multiple commissioners emphasized the commission’s dual interest in supporting youth programs and addressing neighborhood traffic.
Commissioner Ring argued for options that would reduce congestion without stripping baseball of its season: he proposed a hybrid approach that would prioritize recreational league play during the spring and fall seasons and reserve stricter limits outside peak periods. Commissioner Grant said ABAA provides “much more to this community in the service of our young folks” and opposed a blanket restriction. Staff indicated the Farmers Market currently is limited to roughly 50–55 vendors by management and that the city will pursue a new operating agreement and potential alternative locations (Donner Park or Marsh Oaks) as part of a broader solution.
The amended motion (Option 2) keeps Sunday play available while directing staff to continue work on market management, vendor limits, parking controls and possible field upgrades at Donner Park. The commission voted 4–1 (Nay: Commissioner Kelly). The commission also requested staff return with a draft Farmers Market RFP and administration plan to address vendor counts, management performance and traffic control.
The vote keeps open staff authority to later amend agreements if the Farmers Market’s schedule or vendor footprint changes; staff said they would adjust the ABAA agreement if the market relocates or changes hours.
