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Residents ask Amelia County to allow new youth baseball league to use county fields
Summary
Several coaches and longtime program supporters asked the board to permit additional youth baseball usage of county-maintained fields for a proposed new league, arguing it would expand opportunities for children and generate concession revenue for Parks and Recreation.
Multiple residents used public comment time to ask the Amelia County Board of Supervisors for permission and support to expand use of county-maintained baseball fields for a proposed new youth baseball league.
Michael Coward, who said he was born and raised in the county and has coached multiple youth teams, asked the board for its "blessing" so he could continue negotiating with leagues that have offered to bring programs to Amelia. Coward said existing fields are already maintained by the county, listed recent field upgrades (a new fence, scoreboards and batting cages) and offered volunteer labor to install equipment.
Avery Golf and Will Dunford, both longtime local sponsors and coaches, told the board they supported the county's existing Amelia Diamond Youth Baseball program but said additional options would give families choice and help teenagers who currently have nowhere to play locally. Golf emphasized the Diamond program’s multi-decade history of private support and cautioned against asking taxpayers to fund something the community historically supported through volunteers and sponsors.
Board members closed public comment and said the matter was not on the formal agenda; staff indicated matters not on the agenda would not be acted on that night. Commenters were urged to coordinate with Parks and Recreation to explore next steps.
No formal board action on field use was recorded at the meeting.
