8/1/2005 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Minutes of a Meeting of The North Olmsted Parks and Recreation Commission August 1, 2005 It’s just not as easy as standing out in the field and saying O.K., we patch this, and then having Community Council do here or going to the schools later and saying O.K., can you take it down this weekend and then put it back up because you want it the following week. These are not things that you can say O.K. to; they must be given thought. Getting everyone all riled up isn’t really helping the situation. Mr. Carras said that it’s a frustration, and that the lady over here said something: it seems like baseball has taken a back seat in this City. Let him tell you: he runs the Athletic Department; he’s a proponent of all the sports. He loves soccer and baseball; he coached college football for 19 years; he loves them all. The Athletic Department is into this seven years now without an adequate ball park and without a fence. There are some safety factors. He knows NOSO’s important in this town, and it’s important to him, too. If we ask them now if they can find a place for two other diamonds, he thinks the problem is solved. The Athletic Department thinks they can accommodate the Scouts. They will take the fence down by the time Homecoming is here. NOSO, can you find two other fields? We’ve got the problem solved, then. We’ve got a diamond then. Do we have to ask permission of NOSO? Can someone in here not say, this is what we’re doing? Mr. Limpert pointed out what it would be like if NOSO were at the Rec Commission Meeting and they would be saying, can’t you put three more soccer fields in at the Park; we really don’t need all those baseball diamonds (loud, overlapping conversation). The point was made that NOSO is not asking for three more soccer fields; the Athletic Department was asking for one field. Let’s talk about facts. Mrs. Callahan said, “What is so bad about one baseball diamond that our high schoolers can use and be proud of, so we don’t have to go down to Westlake and out to Bay and out to Olmstead Falls to pay our away games? That’s all we’re asking. It’s not a big deal. We pay our taxes.” Another gentleman said that what has to be understood is that it’s frustrating for the kids and the coaches to get on that bus to go to another field to play the game when they don’t have a field to play on. Then they see the kids on the other teams have beautiful fields and after the games they get out with the rakes because they take pride in their fields, and they’re fixing their fields up. Our kids see that. You gotta give them something so they can take pride in it. These kids grew up playing ball in North Olmsted. When they get to high school they deserve a field. It would be nice for them to have a field. The one fence is good, but a permanent fence would be the best. Mr. Limpert said, “Exactly. So we have to plan this out and not have just a handshake agreement with nobody getting into the facts, and so we need to work this out. Nobody has to deny you a field.” Mrs. Callahan said, “You’ve been doing it for years.” Mr. Limpert said, “Excuse me?” Mrs. Callahan: “It’s been for years.” Mr. Limpert said, “I know; my Dad played on those fields when he was in high school, and they should be upgraded I think a little bit.” Mrs. Callahan: “A little bit?” Mr. Limpert: “Yeah, I mean, I’m trying to put a little humor into it, but we…” Mrs. Callahan: “There’s nothing humorous about it. Mr. Limpert: “Mhmm.” Mrs. Callahan: “And Page 8