A couple of weeks ago the Dunwoody City Council did an annual approval of our Facility Usage Agreements with the Athletic Association Partners which raised the usage prices for upkeep of the artificial turf fields. As the City Council and Staff have been looking to find a place, or space for the new Peachtree Girls Softball Team to play; the best decision that floated to the top at least temporarily was to allow the girls to practice and play games on the west baseball field at Brook Run for several months in the fall, for several hours for four days per week.
On Monday after staff discussions with DSB and the softball program, we the City Council approved the Facility Usage Agreement with Dunwoody Senior Baseball which not only raised the hourly rate but also reduced the playing field availability for Fall baseball to allow some time for softball. Dunwoody Senior Baseball will be negatively impacted as it reduces field
time for that organization by four game slots per week. More weekend games may need to be scheduled or a few lesser teams may be able to be registered in the Fall, but there is time to review those logistics.
Another sticking point among field use is field conversion back and forth as the boys use a pitching mound and the girls do not, the base lengths are shorter in softball as well as other minor field differences. Questions were raised as to the speed of the conversion from a girls field to the boys field in order for the boys to play soon after the softball use was completed. City staff said that there are numerous logistics to be worked out but they will work towards a smooth transition with both organizations. Council was also told that the softball use schedule was yet to be determined whereby the days and hours may be scaled back to allow more time for DSB.
I believe the girls softball team does need some equity and the Dunwoody Senior Baseball program has expanded their use over years as there are no field resting periods to let the grass grow, almost no rain outs or make up games as compared to the natural turf fields back on the old location where Austin Elementary sits, therefore I voted to approve the field agreement as DSB has yet to plan or schedule Fall use and/or the changes can hopefully be worked in.
Another point I raised during discussion was the historical perspective from the start of cityhood whereby there were established sports programs in various neighboring municipalities and existing non-profits that we the City of Dunwoody didn't need to duplicate their efforts. Murphey Candler (in Brookhaven) has numerous fields where it offers both youth baseball & softball for many Dunwoody kids (as well as Atlanta Colts Football & Cheerleading) and in order to reciprocate, the City of Dunwoody continues to offer Dunwoody Senior Baseball to all participants who age out of the Murphy Candler Program. We do not differentiate where a participant lives in order to participate, nor do we charge more if they live outside Dunwoody and there was the gentleman's agreement made many years ago between ourselves and the various municipalities. To me making sure Dunwoody Senior is viable is also making sure that Dunwoody children can play at Murphey Candler, the Atlanta Colts, Chamblee T-ball, the Atlanta Flames and many others.
Compared to our neighbors, the City of Dunwoody has not only kept Dunwoody Senior Baseball viable but we expanded our soccer offerings in the back of Brook Run and then with the possibility of turfing the football field at PCMS where we have a 20 year lease from DeKalb School System and have already installed lights; there is already an easy path to increased sports opportunities for both genders. Once that field is built out (it is at the top of the Citizen's Capital Review Board List) our children's middle school (and high school) sports of football, flag football, ultimate frisbee and lacrosse programs; can easily be expanded.
I just get a little worried of a forced contraction (or reshuffling of game times) for one season of Dunwoody Senior Baseball, a Dunwoody sports institution that has been in place for 50 years; as I see it as a slippery slope. At the same time I am excited for the possible growth of a girls softball program here is Dunwoody for those girls who graduate from the Murphy Candler program.
Hopefully both programs can thrive. John
"The Dunwoody City Council at its Dec. 12 meeting approved a facility
use agreement that will allow for girl’s softball programs to practice
and play at the city’s Dunwoody Senior Baseball (DSB) fields next fall –
a move that DSB officials say will force the organization to cut the
number of baseball players significantly.
The facilities’ agreement also increases by $10 an hour the standard hourly rate for any fundraising tournaments hosted by DSB.
A memo regarding the changes also says the “west field will be
excluded from their (DSB) use during August 1-October 31 from 4 p.m. -7
p.m Monday-Thursday, unless otherwise approved by the city. This will
allow the Dunwoody High School Softball Booster Club to utilize the
field during that time frame.”
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