Even in the strongest economic times, communities across the country struggle to address overcrowded fields and compromised recreational facilities. In Fairfield, the issue has become particularly contentious in recent years, as certain leagues such as Fairfield Little League Girls Softball (FLLGS), view themselves as undervalued and underserved by town resources and facilities.
With no home field of their own, FLLGS officials have spent two years trying to craft a solution to address the needs of their players and the overcrowding on town fields. They propose spending league money to build a field on a portion of a 9.42 acre parcel at Hoyden's Lane, which the town purchased for $1.8 million in December 2007.
The Town's Parks and Recreation department has requested $400,000 in its budget to improve the parcel, but not exclusively for softball fields. Other recreational outlets would also benefit from the expenditure. The proposal was shot down at its first hearing in 2009 and is currently being revised by Parks and Recreation before being submitted to the Board of Finance for a second time.
Constructing a dedicated field on the Hoyden's Lane parcel seems like an ideal solution to FLLGS officials, but Hoyden Hill Neighborhood Association residents are staunchly opposed. "Economically, this is the wrong time to spend $400,000. With the economy being as bad as it is, cutting our education budget by $3 million, yet they want to (spend) $400,000 for a softball field for a couple hundred girls," Kirk Manley, a leader in the Hoyden Hill's association, told the Fairfield Patch earlier this month.
The neighborhood's resistance vexes the FLLGS on a number of levels. Unlike the boys' little leagues, which have two dedicated fields with concessions and restroom facilities, the FLLGS doesn't have a field dedicated exclusively to the league. Worse, some of the fields to which the girls are assigned lack adequate restroom facilities. Girls softball also competes for fields with recreation teams, a reality which creates such scheduling gymnastics that FLLGS regularly plays other towns far from home just to secure field space. Despite the field constraints, FLLGS is still able to field competitive teams, winning the State Championship at the 11U and 10U levels in 2009. It all adds up to one irritating situation for the league.
"It's our second year of doing this,'' says Scott Walker, a league official. "Our board and our girls - are frustrated that we can't find a workable solution to a serious problem." The Board of Finance had been scheduled to vote on the $400,000 request earlier this month, but P&R officials asked to remove the request for a few months to develop a comprehensive plan for the Hoyden's Lane parcel.
This has opened up additional debate over whether the tract can be used for "active" recreation such as softball or "passive" recreation. Hoyden Lane residents believe when the town purchased the property it was for passive outlets. To secure bond financing for the purchase, the Town indicated that it would develop the parcel for "town purposes", a vague phrase that muddies exactly what activities will be permitted on the parcel.
Meanwhile, resentment builds within the FLLGS. "This property belongs to the Town the whole town. We owe it to our kids and our community to use such resources in a way that is creative, broadly enriching and totally fair,'' says Joy Martini, whose stepdaughter plays in the league. "We have the opportunity to beautify an eyesore for the neighborhood, provide revenue for the town through sponsorships, concessions and tournaments, and send a message of equal treatment to hordes of young girls who are putting their hearts and souls into this league. We can do it for soccer. We can find the money for boys little league fields. We can develop a skate park at South Benson marina. Why can't we do it for girls softball?"
Walker says the league is willing to compromise to get the fields built on Hoyden's Lane, but wants resolution. "The community is a critical stakeholder in the development of this property and we want to work with area residents to develop a fantastic recreational facility they will be proud of. This should be collaborative, not combative," Walker says.
Still, FLLGS is committed to seeing this through. "The town does not have a plan B if this field development proposal fails. However, as a board we have a responsibility to our girls to continue to press the town to do what is fair and required. There is already pressure within our membership to consider taking legal action. No one want to go down that road, but with no other options presented by the town FLLGS must do what is in the best interest of our girls."
Click here to follow Daily Voice and receive free news updates.
