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Ontario Little League leader says city insurance and field limits threaten youth play
Summary
Aaron Matheson, representing Ontario Eastern Little League, told the council that field closures, repeated break-ins at storage sheds and a city-mandated insurance increase — including nearly doubling assault/molestation coverage — are making youth baseball cost-prohibitive for about 150 players.
Aaron Matheson, representing Ontario Eastern Little League, told the Ontario City Council during public comment that problems at John Galvin Park — dying grass, safety issues from mixed-age use, multiple attempted break-ins at temporary storage and needles found in dugouts — have limited his league's access to fields and threatened player safety.
"It's directly impacting my 150 players," Matheson said, and added that new insurance requirements sent by the city would force his organization to pay what he described as four times the national average for coverage. He said the added assault and molestation coverage would cost about $1,500 per season and that many families in his lower‑income league cannot absorb the increase.
Matheson urged the city to reduce insurance burdens and address lighting, storage security and field maintenance. In response, City Manager Scott Ochoa indicated the city would follow up: Deputy Chief Lopez was asked to meet with Matheson after the meeting to discuss safety and enforcement concerns.
