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Parents and coaches warn proposed field moves would squeeze Elm Street Little League
Summary
Multiple Elm Street Little League volunteers and coaches told the committee that current plans to reassign or repurpose fields (including Joe Vilardi Field) risk leaving girls' teams without practice or game space; speakers asked the city to preserve and replace fields before moving them.
Several Elm Street Little League volunteers told the committee that the program depends on a very small number of certified softball fields and that proposed renovations and land swaps tied to other projects could remove critical playing space. Miranda Ivy, president of Elm Street Little League, said the league has only two usable fields and eight teams that rely on Joe Vilardi Field for regular season play.
"Elm Street Little League only has 2 fields right now... I have 8 teams," Miranda Ivy said, noting alternate sites lack fencing, restrooms, shade and dugouts. Other residents and volunteers asked for clear plans for replacement fields or funding mechanisms so grant-funded fields are not forfeited. Committee members and staff discussed design work at Elm Street and MLK as replacement options and emphasized the need to reconcile waterfront-park plans and airport/county deals without reducing youth recreation space.
