Title
Ballfield Assessment
Body
County Council assigned the Parks and Recreation Board the task of receiving and making recommendations for softball/baseball capacity needs, uses and lighting. Parks and Recreation Board members held a workshop at Overlook Park (attachment A.) and North Mesa Sports Complex (Attachment B) to better understand the issues and to begin formulation of recommendations. Discussions have included members of the public, County Council, Coaches, LAPS Athletic Director, organizational representatives, volunteers and staff. In addition, Field User Request Forms and the calendars/schedules that result from these requests have also been reviewed. Field User meetings are generally held in early February to establish the Spring sports schedule and again in early June to establish the Summer sports schedule. Often uses span both seasons with practice schedules and game schedules developed that address conflicts prior to finalizing the associated schedules. We have historically scheduled fields from April 1st - Oct 31st. February and March are now seeing increased scheduled use.
The USSSA Statistics, (attachment C.) Dedicated Usage % (attachment D.) Headcount Use by Month (attachment E.) as provided courtesy of the user groups substantiates our field user schedules. Presently, the capacity needs of the users are being met while growth can be accommodated through continued collaborative scheduling.
Within the current County Council goals, the Parks and Recreation Board promotes maximum utilization of parks, recreation facilities and programs. Continuing to balance multiple users on all the fields will sustain not only the ebb and flow of individual sports it will allow for multiple turf activities/sports and their participants in the long run.
To maximize multiple uses while meeting different field dimensions it is recommended that moveable outfield fencing be a high priority for future budgets. Just as portable pitching mounds provide various in-field options, portable fence promotes various outfield options. The Los Alamos Ballfield Facilities and Primary Users, (Attachment F.) chart shows current and proposed dimensions that can be accommodated with portable outfield fencing.
In addition, the assessment identified safety netting as a need given field locations and proximity of other park amenities. Also discussed was the possible lighting at one of the softball fields when numbers increase both in local and tournament play. Other sport specific additions include score boards, batting cages, bull pens and batting stations. Collaborative efforts between user groups, sponsors/donors and the school district could address these items.
The assessment also documented a list of agreed upon operational and maintenance items that will be addressed by county staff. A substantial effort is already underway to address site drainage, maintenance, storage and general maintenance of the Overlook Sports Complex.
This concludes the assessment of the ballfield facilities capacity needs, use and lighting. The assessment has documented usage, included physical condition appraisals and investigated the many multi-use benefits of the facilities to the larger community. The recommendations of this assessment optimize costs to the county and continues strong partnerships with the coaches, LAPS, volunteers, organizational representatives and the County. As the Parks and Recreation Board promotes maximum utilization of parks, recreation facilities and programs the need to prioritize and fund these recommendations will be included in the FY19 Work Plan.
Recommended Action
Based on a thorough investigation and collaborative evaluation process, I motion for the following recommendation; That Los Alamos County promote maximum utilization of the ballfield facilities for current and future needs while making the most of the present facilities through multiple use and the recommendations as described. Further that sports complex maintenance and the prioritization of improvements be added to the FY19 Work Plan so that timely continued partnership efforts coincide with future funding.
Attachments
A - Overlook Park
B - North Mesa Sports Complex
C - The USSA Statistics
D - Dedicated Usage %
E - Headcount Use by Month
F - The Los Alamos Ballfield Facilities and Primary Users