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Committee approves seasonal reservation and maintenance terms for Memorial Park diamond
Summary
The Parks & Trails Committee agreed to let the Pine Island Baseball Association reserve Memorial Park's diamond for spring practices under a $400 seasonal fee and a requirement that the association maintain the diamond (filling holes, raking, bases). Staff will provide mowing, garbage and porta-potty services and forward the recommendation to city council.
The Oronoco Parks & Trails Committee approved terms allowing the Pine Island Baseball Association to reserve Memorial Park’s baseball diamond for the spring season in exchange for a $400 seasonal fee and specified maintenance duties.
Committee members discussed options — a per‑use gathering permit ($50 per day) versus a seasonal fee — and favored a flat seasonal charge to reduce rain‑out complications and administrative overhead. The association told staff it will provide organizational insurance contingent on receiving a reservation confirmation.
Under the committee’s motion, the association will be responsible for diamond maintenance tasks such as filling gopher holes, raking the infield and replacing or providing bases; the city will continue field mowing, trash collection and porta‑potty arrangements. The fee, members said, should be earmarked for park projects rather than flowing into the general fund.
"If they maintain it, you know, my opinion is let them use it," one committee member said during debate, summarizing the hybrid approach the committee favored. The motion to charge $400 for the season and require maintenance carried by voice vote.
Staff will issue a reservation confirmation to the association so its insurance covers scheduled use, and the committee asked that the recommendation and any fee schedule go to city council for formal ratification. The committee also asked staff to clarify the length of a season and to present a simple reservation confirmation system for insurance purposes.
The coach who requested the field, Daniel Spring, was not present but had informed staff of the 9U team’s planned practice schedule; staff said a typical youth season runs from late May through July and would amount to roughly six to 10 weeks of practices.
