03-25-1996 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON MARCH 25, 2996 ( #8 - Bederwood - Continued) Meyers said he would like to see growth in softball. He said, historically, Orono has shown support for the OBA. He mentioned a northside field at which the Girls Softball gave up its rights to play there as the OBA needed the field. He does not see that the Girls Softball will get the opportunity to play there. Because of this, Meyers saw Bederwood as the only available field. Meyers said the use of Bederwood for two nights showed a grossly underused field. Goetten said the Council needs to listen to the needs of all the people. She noted that the residents have voiced their desire that the parks be used for open space and not exclusively for organized sports. Goetten said she would like to hear from Orono Schools and Mound Schools on this issue. She again noted the availability of the four fields at the Primary School. Meyers noted the three distinct groups playing softball, two age groups of instructional play and a traveling team, along with the compacted season of softball. He said the Maple Plain fields were not in good shape and needed upgrading. Goetten asked if Meyers appreciated the use of the parks by other non - organized groups. Meyers said he did. He continued that he felt Orono has not provided historically for Girls Softball. Goetten again noted the available fields and the need for compromise. • Goetten said she was not willing to break the contract. Callahan said he, personally, was not willing to increase the usage of Bederwood by the OBA and, therefore, was not interested in making any trade. Callahan said he hesitated to grant the right to softball to have a night at Bederwood that they could trade. He said, since Girls Softball was not interested in playing at Bederwood, why would the Council want to grant them the use of it? As to the other opportunities available, Callahan said the Council does not have the right to grant usage at the Primary School, but it represented a place at which to play softball. Callahan said the Council was obligated to keep parks open and noted that the majority of the people in Orono did not want the parks used primarily by a particular organization. • 7abbour asked how the Council could assist in finding the Girls Softball fields to play at. He did note how the Council had assisted in the lease between the OBA and the school as well as assisting with the newly proposed ice arena, which is a cooperative effort between the Orono Hockey Association and Orono School District. Goetten suggested a commission be formed to work on the issue of needs by organizations to assist in finding accommodations. Callahan said the Park Commission was currently reviewing parks and their usage and could focus on this problem, if asked, as part of their overall review. 9