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Clarksville residents, coaches press council on park fees and definition of 'travel team'
Summary
Council discussion of park and ball-diamond rental fees drew concerns from volunteer rec organizers who said fees could discourage participation; councilmembers cited a 1996 resolution setting a $25 fee and signaled interest in a yearly fee option and clearer definitions.
The Clarksville City Council discussed possible rules and fees for City Park ball diamonds on Oct. 7 after the city received inquiries about field rentals from out-of-town teams.
Volunteer K-2 City Rec organizer Kayla Vance raised concerns about how proposed fees would be used and whether fees would be assessed against local programs such as the Clarksville Tribe. "There are volunteers who give their time to provide opportunities for kids," Vance said, urging the council to consider whether fees would discourage participation.
Justin and Megan Wedeking, who run the Clarksville Tribe program, asked the council for a clear definition of what would count as a "travel team." Justin Wedeking said the Tribe began with Clarksville players but later opened to players from other towns because of low local numbers; he said the program charges participants minimally (he cited a $20 equipment charge this year) and does not collect facility rental fees.
Councilmember Jennifer Kielman said staff found a 1996 resolution that set a $25 rental fee and a $25 deposit for ball-diamond use; the council discussed keeping that fee level and introducing a yearly fee option to provide continuous use. Council members and residents also noted that the city handles maintenance and large capital purchases such as fencing.
The council did not adopt a new fee at the Oct. 7 meeting; discussion focused on definitions, enforcement, and balancing volunteer-run programs with demand from outside teams. Transcript records show an inconsistent spelling for one resident who asked questions (appears as "Jill Grover" in the attendance list and later as "Jill Lodge" in the discussion); the record of that name was not clarified during the meeting.
Next steps: the council will consider whether to draft updated rental rules or an annual fee schedule and to clarify enforcement and a definition of "travel team."
