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Youth leagues warn fee proposal for Sunset Park would add roughly $18,000 to volunteer program
Summary
Youth-sports representatives told the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee that a proposed $15-per-hour rental rate for Sunset Park could cost Lago Vista United Baseball & Softball about $18,000 annually and force higher registration fees; staff described a $47,000 annual maintenance cost and the committee moved the issue to the next agenda for further study.
Gio, vice president of softball for Lago Vista United Baseball and Softball, told the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee that a proposed $15-per-hour rental rate for Sunset Park fields would cost the volunteer-run league roughly $18,000 for the season and likely force per-player registration increases of $50–$75.
"For a volunteer run youth league, an $18,000 increase is significant," Gio said, noting the league serves more than 300 youth and operated at a $20,000 deficit in 2025.
City staff presented an analysis showing the city currently spends about $47,000 a year on staffing, equipment, utilities and other maintenance for the Sunset Park ball and soccer fields, and recommended two policy changes to the facility use agreement: charging a fee to recover some costs and distinguishing recreational (no tryouts) from travel/select leagues when prioritizing reservations. "My recommendation is that...recreational development leagues ought to have priority use over non-recreational or travel leagues," staff said.
Multiple residents and league officials told the committee that the league already provides substantial volunteer maintenance — dragging fields, supplying chalk and bases, staffing concessions — and urged the committee to credit "sweat equity" or develop a different cost-sharing model rather than imposing an hourly rental fee. Parents and youth also raised facility-quality concerns, citing limited parking, few restrooms and no lights at Sunset Park.
Chair Andrew Dale asked the league to return with a concrete proposal for what it could afford and how volunteer maintenance might be documented. Mark Douglas moved to carry the Sunset Park facility-use agreement and proposed fees to the committee's next agenda; Andrew Dale seconded. The motion passed by voice vote.
The committee made no decision on fees at the meeting and directed staff and stakeholders to continue discussions. Staff emphasized that any final fee decision would be made by the city council after the advisory committee's recommendation.
