Baltimore Youth Baseball asks village to approve indoor sports facility at village park

Representatives of Baltimore Youth Baseball and the Baltimore Youth Soccer Association told the Baltimore Village Council they have invested about $250,000 in park improvements over the last four years and are seeking the village’s approval to build an indoor sports facility at the village park.

The groups’ representative (Baltimore Youth Baseball/Youth Soccer representative, S8) described two building footprints under consideration — an 80-by-160-foot structure and a smaller 80-by-128-foot option — with insulated turf interior, heating and cooling, and space for multi-sport practice. He said the organizations have secured fundraising, a bank sponsor and several local contractors, and estimated previous park work and a large parking-lot project cost about $110,000.

"We're right around $250,000 in improvements out there in the last 4 years," the representative said, and added the groups plan to invest roughly $300,000 in the new facility and requested a long-term lease so that investment is protected.

Council leadership signaled support but emphasized due diligence. Chair (S2) asked that council members connect the representatives with village staff and legal counsel to examine deed restrictions and any required contract or lease language. "I'd really like to happen is if one of the council members could get Jeremiah and those guys' contact information and really dig into it and then bring something back to council so we could go over it," the Chair said.

Council and attendees raised specific concerns the representative had already anticipated: potential burial grounds or other site constraints, who would manage the facility long term, and how the village would secure public-property interests if third parties take out loans to help build the structure. The youth-sports representative said a lease option of about 25 to 30 years is being requested so the groups can secure their initial investment, and that management would remain with local organizers and volunteers.

The council directed the groups to meet with Jamie (village staff) and the village administrator for a legal and site review; Jamie was asked to check burial maps and report back. The Chair said staff should return an update at a future meeting once the village attorney and administrator have reviewed the proposal.

Next steps: the youth-sports representatives will meet with village staff to provide detailed project plans and financial documentation; staff will review deed constraints and present recommendations to the council at a later meeting.