April 7, 2011 in Washington Voices

Spokane will be bursting with new turf for youth

By The Spokesman-Review
 
Tags:B.A. Clark Parkbaseball fieldsChief Garry ParkCraig ButzDwight Merkel Sports ComplexFranklin Parkleroy eadieLiberty Parkspokane parks and recreation departmentUnderhill Parkyouth baseball
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A construction fence surrounds the new baseball fields at Underhill Park on Tuesday.
(Full-size photo)

Baseball field rates

At Dwight Merkel Sports Complex, an adult softball game costs $26.25.

At Franklin Park the fee is $22. Without lights, a game at Merkel will run $18.75; $14.75 at Franklin Park. At Merkel, a Spokane Public Schools’ or youth baseball or softball game will cost $22.50 with lights – or $18.50 at Franklin Park.

Without lights, a game will be $15 at Merkel and $11 at Franklin.

To be included in updates about the youth baseball fields, scheduling and field allocation policies and procedures, send an email to ngoodspeed@spokanecity.org and ask to be added to the distribution list.

Players and coaches can also visit www.spokaneparks.org or call (509) 625-6200

The Spokane Parks and Recreation Department has finished constructing and refurbishing nine youth baseball fields across town.

As part of the 2007 Parks Improvement Bond, $3 million was designated to convert nine general use softball and baseball fields to youth baseball fields.

The fields are located in each of the three city council districts: two in Underhill Park, one at Liberty Park, three at Chief Garry Park, two at B.A. Clark Park and one at the new Dwight Merkel Sports Complex. But eager players have to hold their bats for just a short time longer.

The Parks Department’s Craig Butz said the fields will be offline until the turf is well established.

For now, youth baseball has access to the Dwight Merkel Complex and to Franklin Park.

“We believe strongly in helping our kids be active and healthy,” wrote Leroy Eadie, Spokane Parks and Recreation Department Director, in a statement announcing the fields.

The Spokane Parks and Recreation Department is now managing and scheduling Franklin Park softball and Southeast Sports Complex as well as all other softball and baseball fields owned by the parks department and located within the city limits.

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Five comments on this story so far. Add yours!

  • dflaplante on April 07 at 8:10 a.m.

    Great job by ALL at the Parks Department. Now, make sure that NO CHILDREN are turned away from public swimming pools because they cannot afford the FEE!

  • ManleyPointer on April 07 at 8:46 a.m.

    Three million dollars to convert nine “general use softball and baseball fields” to “youth baseball fields”? That’s only $333,333 per field! What a steal!

  • eagleproducer on April 07 at 8:52 a.m.

    Manly: You just need to get in on the sweet deals offered to area contractors for projects like these. You should see how much money an area concrete contractor received from stimulus funds to fix cracked sidewalks in Browne’s Addition and didn’t add a single job to their payrolls.

  • woamike on April 07 at 9:25 a.m.

    dflaplante,

    Here’s a sure-fire way to make sure that happens - you can personally pay for those who “cannot afford” the fee.

    I don’t mean to pick on you… but, I’m weary of people (well intentioned though they may be) of wanting to spend other people’s money so someone else gets a good or service for free. We, with our good intentions, have created a growing entitlement class that thinks for this reason or that, SOMEONE ELSE should pay. It extends all the way from the able-bodied men who beg for money at intersections to mega corporations like G.E. who think they should get corporate welfare.

    I love pools and think they’re worthwhile. I also think they should pay for or nearly pay for themselves. Everyone who uses them should pay something. If for no other reason than to remind them NOTHING is FREE in this world and if you want something, you have to work to get it.

    When I was a kid, it costs a quarter to go to the pool. My parents had to decide what was more important - a beer for them (for example) or a day at the pool for their kids. I had to decide to use that quarter to go to the pool or buy some candy and a soda.

    All but the truly destitute and those who are physically/mentally incapable of providing for themselves should pay just like everyone else. We all make choices with what to do with our money. We need to stop coddling able bodied, sound minded people and by extension, their kids. If these able bodied, sound minded parents stopped getting government handouts, the overwhelming majority of them would change their ways. You’d be suprised how many of them got “motivated” to be more productive.

    For the orphan, children of the widow and the truly poor, good people have and will continue to help them. I for one am going to buy a seaon pool pass for a couple of these kids. These I have compassion for and feel an obligation to help.

  • ManleyPointer on April 07 at 9:51 a.m.

    You must be a veritable youngster, woamike, if you paid a quarter to go to the pool. When I was a kid, it cost a dime to swim at Shadle. Worth it, though.

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