City fee forces youth baseball league site shift

New policy requires users to help pay for maintenance of baseball diamonds.

Local youth baseball leagues feel economic pinch

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By Joanne Huist Smith, Staff Writer 11:40 PM Tuesday, April 28, 2009

The weather was great for baseball, and players in the 13-14 age group of the Pinewood Athletic Association Baseball League couldn’t wait to get to the Belmont Park diamond Saturday, April 25.

For the league, it was a 30-year tradition.

Instead of concentrating on the practice, league coaches say they feared Dayton police would be called to force them off the field.

“They were told they were not allowed to use those fields unless they reserved them and paid a fee,” Pinewood President James Walker said.

Though Diamond No. 1 was not reserved for a city of Dayton team, the kids were asked by Department of Recreation and Youth Services staff to vacate the field, because the league hadn’t paid a $50-per-day, per-diamond fee initiated by the city this year.

Pinewood coaches and city recreation officials came together Tuesday, April 28, to talk about kids and summer leagues, but youth baseball’s bottom line dominated much of the meeting.

“We can’t pay any money. That’s why I’m struggling with the additional fees,” Walker said. “All I have to give is my sweat.”

The Pinewood coaches are all volunteers. About 200 Dayton kids participate in the league.

LaShea Smith, interim director of the city’s Department of Recreation and Youth Services, said in years past, the city bore the burden of maintaining the fields. In the current economy, that’s just not possible.

The league hopes to play, this year, at Pinewood Park behind Kemp School, 1020 Gondert Ave., thanks to Dayton Public Schools.

There are two diamonds at the park, compared to the three at Belmont. As a result, Saturday games will be four deep, with start times for the final game around 3:30 p.m. in the heat of afternoon.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2362 or joanne@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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