DeLand’s baseball woes: Where should the fields go?

0
DeLand’s baseball woes: Where should the fields go?
BEACON PHOTO/CHASIDY RUTH<br> BASEBALL WOES — The DeLand City Commission looks thoughtful at their meeting.

Things got spicy at the Deland’s City Commission meeting March 4 over a proposed 13-acre baseball field complex on the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Beltway near Victoria Park. 

Primary elements of this project would include “a 300-foot synthetic baseball field, a synthetic multi-purpose field, combined restroom facility with an integrated concession area, and a pedestrian exercise trail/walking path with fitness stations,” according to the 13-acre recreational park preliminary and final concept plan.

The project design and permitting alone would cost $120,536.00, which Freese and Nichols is expecting the city to cover. 

Freese and Nichols, is representing their plan and their business in spearheading the development project for their client Ray Bahrami, Deland city engineer. 

However, the commissioners were not 100 percent sold on the concept. 

 Deland Commissioner Kevin Reid kicked off an intense exchange by noting “it’s nothing to do with the Freese and Nichols design” for the area, but rather, “it doesn’t come close to our need.” 

Reid pointed out that the tentative proposed project — referred to as “MLK 13-acre recreational park” in related documents — would separate current resources already being used by the Parks and Recreation Department. 

“This would be a satellite facility that does not meet a need,” Reid said.

He argued for directing the resources to expand the nearby Sperling Sports Complex in the northeast DeLand area.

But, engineer Bahrami, representing Freese and Nichols, pushed back on the appropriateness of expanding the Sperling site.

“There are large wetland areas to the south and west of this site,” Bahrami said.

The area surrounding Sperling is in “flood zone A,” he said, and thus not ideal for recreational sports fields. 

Reid countered, saying while there are hurdles, the area by the airport isn’t being used besides designated space for a radio control club, so expanding Sperling could still make sense. 

“I’d propose growing Sperling rather than using the 13 acres,” Reid forcefully said at the end of discussion.

The back-and-forth lasted 17 minutes.

No final decision was made, with the City Commission open to hearing more information on both project ideas. 

No posts to display

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here