Note: The online Request to Speak window has expired.
The online Comment window has expired
Agenda Item
Communication from Councilmembers Bullock & Litten regarding duties for recreation activities and maintenance of facilities to be formalized and improved.
I support the MOU and strongly urge the leaders of the city to make a firm and public commitment to fund and complete immediate, extensive repairs to the City’s baseball fields (e.g. prior to 11/1/2021). Citizens, voters, and taxpayers rely on you as elected (and in some cases appointed) leaders to protect and reinvest in the assets of our city. Lakewood's baseball fields are below average relative to neighboring communities, and this has worsened in recent years. Please take the necessary action to remedy this situation.
Our family has been a part of Lakewood baseball for the past decade. It is so sad to see the current field conditions. This is not how our citiy should be represented to visiting communities, it is an embarrassment. These field conditions should be addressed immediately, our kids deserve better!
I feel that the MOU should take action to get our fields up to par with other communities. In years past we have played Puritas baseball because the fields are maintained at a level not seen in the Lakewood Rec leagues.
We support the MOU and the effort to get the baseball fields back into a state of repair that not only aides in the development of the kids but also brings the fields in line with the other sporting facilities in our city and neighboring cities.
Thanks to the council members and the rec department for listening and getting us back on track to better fields !
Thank you for providing this update and context surrounding the effort to ensure these facilities are well maintained. I agree with the MOU in concept as it does sound like historical hand-shake agreement is no longer sufficient to keep the ball fields up to standards that many other neighboring communities enjoy and that are matched with quality of that other Lakewood facilities see. As a neighbor of Thoreau Road, I was also impressed by the quality of the pitch at Cove Park this spring/summer. It looked better than many high school fields. Kudos to that. Please continue to pursue an agreement that will benefit the ball fields accordingly.3
I'm writing to support the creation of the MOU to memorialize and improve maintenance management of Lakewood's baseball fields.
As a parent active in both the soccer and baseball communities in Lakewood, I appreciate how first class, well maintained fields impact program delivery. Lakewood's soccer fields are terrific examples of how to do it right - there was not a better 7v7 soccer field in NEO than Cove this spring. I am confident that determining how best to marshal those same resources and effectively manage, or adjust, the current bifurcated structure will generate the same outcomes for baseball.
The proposed MOU is the right mechanism to kickstart this effort and provide a formalized structure and process to the City, District, and Recreation Department. I appreciate the willingness to collaborate on this effort.
I am commenting in support of the MOU being presented. Nothing can be achieved without a plan in place, and the MOU represents a first step towards establishing a written plan and process for ongoing field maintenance. Thank you to our council members and rec department for recognizing this as an issue and being willing to do the hard work needed to self-evaluate, enact change, and restore and maintain the fields.
I kindly request your immediate action in support of the City investment of resources toward the fields. Our City prides itself on its first-class public spaces so let's provide the necessary support required to make these fields the envy of ALL NE Ohio communities. Our children learn life's essential lessons on these ballfields including teamwork, comradery, sportsmanship, learning how to win (and lose), coachability, and the formation of a work ethic that rewards a commitment to practice over time to achieve better results. In a post-covid world, I can't think of more important lessons to learn for the next generation. Please act now. Thank you for your time and consideration to this important matter.
The fields are in disrepair and deserve immediate attention. The time and effort put in by athletes and volunteer parent coaches should be valued and the city’s commitment to maintain the fields would reflect such value.
Dear Members of Council and Administrators:
As parents of athletes and members of the Lakewood community, my wife and I are grateful to those who have continued to elevate the importance of having safe, usable recreation amenities and maintaining the investments that have been supported by our tax dollars.
At the most basic level, athletic fields provide spaces for exercise and friendship -- some of the most important benefits of any public greenspace. They are an investment of our community's resources, both the initial capital improvements, and the ongoing maintenance required to keep them usable.
As many others discussed at a previous meeting -- and as many members of council seemed to agree -- there is room for improvement with Lakewood's baseball fields. However, it is one thing to agree that improvements are necessary and make some quick investments in these spaces (for which we're thankful), and another thing to stop short of developing a long-term strategy to ensure the fields remain well-cared for. Baseball fields are like any other asset: they improve the quality of life in our city when they are ALL cared for and usable and they become a liability when they are not taken care of.
We encourage the City of Lakewood and the Lakewood Recreation Department to ensure the fields are improved for use in Spring 2022 and, at the same time, develop a policy for maintenance and programming along with a transparent process for determining use of fields. In addition, we hope that the City and the school board can determine the best possible way for recreational activities to be managed in our community. The current situation regarding the ballfields seems to be one of many whereby Lakewood's residents are not getting the best possible services that we can and are, in some ways, falling behind our peer communities. Our parks and recreational facilities should be something we are all proud of and that add value, both quality of life and financial value, to Lakewood.
Agree with AJ Magner on concerns and comments to improve. The fields are a community asset and in needed repair sooner than later so the teams can enjoy time on the fields. Thanks for making this a priority for the city and our citizens.
The MOU is a good start but not the solution. PRIMARY solution to the deplorable field conditions remains immediate repairs in Sept-Nov 2021 to Usher, Fox, Lakefront, and Edwards to recover from years of mismanagement and neglect.
Further, the MOU must contain to be successful (1) Service level standards and a governance model to create transparency and hold both parties accountable for field conditions and in-service time, (2) Contract cancellation provision offering the City an opportunity to exit the contract for convenience and find a replacement means of field care (e.g. City self-performs, hires expert third party), and (3) Use Control provisions whereby the use and programming for fields are controlled by Citizens from a Mayor and/or Council appointed field advocate or subcommittee (not exclusively by the Recreation Department).
These concerned citizens are respectfully requesting City Council and the Mayor to recognize the immediate problem and resolve it without delay. The long needed repairs are required in the next 100 days so the assets (fields) can be used as intended in Spring 2022. Thank you.
I support the MOU and strongly urge the leaders of the city to make a firm and public commitment to fund and complete immediate, extensive repairs to the City’s baseball fields (e.g. prior to 11/1/2021). Citizens, voters, and taxpayers rely on you as elected (and in some cases appointed) leaders to protect and reinvest in the assets of our city. Lakewood's baseball fields are below average relative to neighboring communities, and this has worsened in recent years. Please take the necessary action to remedy this situation.
Our family has been a part of Lakewood baseball for the past decade. It is so sad to see the current field conditions. This is not how our citiy should be represented to visiting communities, it is an embarrassment. These field conditions should be addressed immediately, our kids deserve better!
I feel that the MOU should take action to get our fields up to par with other communities. In years past we have played Puritas baseball because the fields are maintained at a level not seen in the Lakewood Rec leagues.
We support the MOU and the effort to get the baseball fields back into a state of repair that not only aides in the development of the kids but also brings the fields in line with the other sporting facilities in our city and neighboring cities.
Thanks to the council members and the rec department for listening and getting us back on track to better fields !
These baseball field are an embarrassment to our Lakewood community. The Mayor and City Council need to do something immediately! Thank you
Thank you for providing this update and context surrounding the effort to ensure these facilities are well maintained. I agree with the MOU in concept as it does sound like historical hand-shake agreement is no longer sufficient to keep the ball fields up to standards that many other neighboring communities enjoy and that are matched with quality of that other Lakewood facilities see. As a neighbor of Thoreau Road, I was also impressed by the quality of the pitch at Cove Park this spring/summer. It looked better than many high school fields. Kudos to that. Please continue to pursue an agreement that will benefit the ball fields accordingly.3
I'm writing to support the creation of the MOU to memorialize and improve maintenance management of Lakewood's baseball fields.
As a parent active in both the soccer and baseball communities in Lakewood, I appreciate how first class, well maintained fields impact program delivery. Lakewood's soccer fields are terrific examples of how to do it right - there was not a better 7v7 soccer field in NEO than Cove this spring. I am confident that determining how best to marshal those same resources and effectively manage, or adjust, the current bifurcated structure will generate the same outcomes for baseball.
The proposed MOU is the right mechanism to kickstart this effort and provide a formalized structure and process to the City, District, and Recreation Department. I appreciate the willingness to collaborate on this effort.
I am commenting in support of the MOU being presented. Nothing can be achieved without a plan in place, and the MOU represents a first step towards establishing a written plan and process for ongoing field maintenance. Thank you to our council members and rec department for recognizing this as an issue and being willing to do the hard work needed to self-evaluate, enact change, and restore and maintain the fields.
I kindly request your immediate action in support of the City investment of resources toward the fields. Our City prides itself on its first-class public spaces so let's provide the necessary support required to make these fields the envy of ALL NE Ohio communities. Our children learn life's essential lessons on these ballfields including teamwork, comradery, sportsmanship, learning how to win (and lose), coachability, and the formation of a work ethic that rewards a commitment to practice over time to achieve better results. In a post-covid world, I can't think of more important lessons to learn for the next generation. Please act now. Thank you for your time and consideration to this important matter.
The fields are in disrepair and deserve immediate attention. The time and effort put in by athletes and volunteer parent coaches should be valued and the city’s commitment to maintain the fields would reflect such value.
Dear Members of Council and Administrators:
As parents of athletes and members of the Lakewood community, my wife and I are grateful to those who have continued to elevate the importance of having safe, usable recreation amenities and maintaining the investments that have been supported by our tax dollars.
At the most basic level, athletic fields provide spaces for exercise and friendship -- some of the most important benefits of any public greenspace. They are an investment of our community's resources, both the initial capital improvements, and the ongoing maintenance required to keep them usable.
As many others discussed at a previous meeting -- and as many members of council seemed to agree -- there is room for improvement with Lakewood's baseball fields. However, it is one thing to agree that improvements are necessary and make some quick investments in these spaces (for which we're thankful), and another thing to stop short of developing a long-term strategy to ensure the fields remain well-cared for. Baseball fields are like any other asset: they improve the quality of life in our city when they are ALL cared for and usable and they become a liability when they are not taken care of.
We encourage the City of Lakewood and the Lakewood Recreation Department to ensure the fields are improved for use in Spring 2022 and, at the same time, develop a policy for maintenance and programming along with a transparent process for determining use of fields. In addition, we hope that the City and the school board can determine the best possible way for recreational activities to be managed in our community. The current situation regarding the ballfields seems to be one of many whereby Lakewood's residents are not getting the best possible services that we can and are, in some ways, falling behind our peer communities. Our parks and recreational facilities should be something we are all proud of and that add value, both quality of life and financial value, to Lakewood.
Agree with AJ Magner on concerns and comments to improve. The fields are a community asset and in needed repair sooner than later so the teams can enjoy time on the fields. Thanks for making this a priority for the city and our citizens.
The MOU is a good start but not the solution. PRIMARY solution to the deplorable field conditions remains immediate repairs in Sept-Nov 2021 to Usher, Fox, Lakefront, and Edwards to recover from years of mismanagement and neglect.
Further, the MOU must contain to be successful (1) Service level standards and a governance model to create transparency and hold both parties accountable for field conditions and in-service time, (2) Contract cancellation provision offering the City an opportunity to exit the contract for convenience and find a replacement means of field care (e.g. City self-performs, hires expert third party), and (3) Use Control provisions whereby the use and programming for fields are controlled by Citizens from a Mayor and/or Council appointed field advocate or subcommittee (not exclusively by the Recreation Department).
These concerned citizens are respectfully requesting City Council and the Mayor to recognize the immediate problem and resolve it without delay. The long needed repairs are required in the next 100 days so the assets (fields) can be used as intended in Spring 2022. Thank you.