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Youth leagues push for multiuse fields in Lodal Park redevelopment
Summary
Committee members began work on City Council's directive to propose three best uses for the Lodal Park property; local youth sports organizations urged two baseball/softball fields plus a multiuse soccer/football field and more parking.
The Kingsford Citizens Advisory/Parks Decorations Committee on March 9 began developing recommendations for the City Council's directive to identify the three best alternative uses for the newly acquired Lodal Park property. Committee member Dale Trombly distributed worksheets for members to record their top recommendations and asked members to weigh pros and cons.
Sean Palomaki, representing the Kingsford Little League and the Central U.P. Youth Football League, urged the committee to prioritize two baseball/softball fields and a multiuse soccer/football field with expanded parking, and he suggested the possibility of an additional concession stand to support league operations. Misty Tavonatti of SAY Soccer told the committee that "40% of the youth playing in SAY are residents of Kingsford and do not have a home field," pressing for a multiuse field to serve local players. Michael Stelmaszek noted that DPW had requested quotes for tree removal as part of preliminary site work; DPW capacity and existing task lists will constrain the timeline for any development.
Why it matters: Lodal Park's future use will determine where local youth teams play and how the city allocates maintenance and capital resources. The committee is collecting member recommendations to present the top alternatives to City Council, which issued the directive.
What's next: Committee members will complete the provided worksheets and return recommendations; DPW follow-up on tree removal quotes is in progress and will affect scheduling for site work.
