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Board discusses softball-field maintenance and whether school upgrades created inequity for girls' softball
Summary
Public comment and board members raised concerns that a new turf baseball field at the high school left girls' softball without an equivalent upgrade; staff said prior park investments were made and suggested lease addenda or formal agreements as potential remedies, but no binding decision was reached.
The Munster Park Board spent substantial time on public-comment follow-up and internal discussion about who should fund and maintain softball fields used by school and community teams.
A member of the public had raised concerns about the condition of the softball fields and later filed a public-records request; staff confirmed the request was fulfilled. A staff member said the town had already made capital investments this season and referenced "$2,223,000 dollars worth of events improvements to fields A and B" earlier in the spring. "The grand complaints... the high school built a turf baseball field, and they didn't do the equivalent for girls' softball," the staff member said, summarizing the core grievance.
Board members and staff debated whether the town should pursue a lease addendum with School Town or rely on annual permits and user organizations to perform day-to-day maintenance. Staff described the town's role as providing infrastructure — mowing, irrigation, dugouts, scoreboards and lights — while user organizations (Munster Girls Softball, Munster High School) typically drag fields, chalk lines and maintain playing surfaces.
Some board members urged pursuing a formal agreement that would make users more likely to invest in improvements; others cautioned that park priorities must be balanced across many needs and that school schedules and regional tournaments complicate shared access.
No formal motion or vote resolving responsibility or funding was recorded; staff said they will coordinate with the town manager and superintendent on potential lease or agreement options and that public outreach would be scheduled if the board opts to pursue land-acquisition or formal changes to agreements.
What happens next: staff will continue discussions with School Town and may propose a lease addendum or public-outreach process if the board chooses to advance the matter.
