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South Zanesville council approves middle-school softball use of park field, discusses benches and grant reapplication
Summary
Council unanimously approved a resident’s request to use the park field for a middle-school girls’ softball team and discussed sponsoring benches, pickleball infrastructure and reapplying for NatureWorks grants in July 2026.
Resident Jeff Stottsberry asked the council to allow a non-school 7th–8th grade girls’ softball team to use the village baseball/softball field for practices from February through April and a junior-high tournament in early May. Council members discussed the field’s Little League–sized diamond, proximity to nearby houses and the low risk of balls reaching vehicles. Council requested the team provide practice and game schedules and approved use of the field pending coordination.
Council also revisited a prior proposal to install veteran’s flags downtown but decided not to pursue it because the program would have required residents to pay $100 per flag and the village would have had to manage the project alone.
Discussion of park improvements included a proposal to allow businesses or individuals to sponsor benches (five-foot bench $619; four-foot bench $519 with engraving). Council noted that bleachers, rather than benches, would be required if the village plans to host pickleball tournaments. Staff reported the village was not selected for the current NatureWorks grant round and plans to reapply when Round 31 opens in July 2026.
Council asked staff to continue coordination with the softball organizer and to pursue bench-sponsorship options and potential grant opportunities for park improvements.
