(1/1) Spearheaded by Commissioner Frank Davis, fellow Commissioners and town staff are working diligently to bring youth baseball back to Emmitsburg. After a special meeting held in November, discussing ways to encourage teams to utilize the fields in town, Davis brought forth a proposal with interested teams and a new fee structure to the town’s meeting on December 3.

The overarching goal is to bring youth baseball back to town limits, since many Emmitsburg children are currently traveling outside town to play baseball and softball. "In its prime, the town had upwards of twenty teams composed of Emmitsburg residents/children," stated Commissioner Clifford Sweeney. Town staff, Commissioners and many residents would love to see youth baseball make its way back to town.

Last year, Commissioners voted to adopt a new policy, which changed the fee structure for renting baseball fields. The new policy separated charges dependent upon their specified use and resident versus non-resident status. As it currently stands, single day use for a non-profit organization is $10 per hour. The fee is 100% refundable if the field and surrounding areas are left in good condition. Single day use for residents from the Emmitsburg voting district is $10 per hour, with 50% of the fee being refunded if left in good condition. Non-residents will be charged $20 per hour. League use for a league with an address based in the Emmitsburg voting district is $50 per team per field per season. A non-resident league will be charged $100 per team per field per season. Tournament use for a youth team, ages seventeen and under, is $50 per day, and an adult team is $75 per day. Additionally, proof of non-profit status and liability insurance is required upon application submission.

Public input was received on October 24 and on November 19 at the regularly scheduled Parks and Recreation Committee meeting. Input was received from parents, the parks and recreation committee, and all the baseball/softball organizations. According to Davis, a "take-away" from the meetings was that many parents were upset that, according to the current fee schedule, the town would be charging Little League and Babe Ruth (non-profits), even if at a reduced price. Davis proposed town allow non-profits to use the fields at no charge.

The town received five organizations interested in utilizing the baseball fields for 2020: Thurmont Little League, Thurmont Babe Ruth, Catoctin Recreation Softball, Mount St. Mary’s Club Baseball, and Mid-Maryland Travel Baseball. Town staff provided statistics that broke down numbers of Emmitsburg children involved in youth baseball last year. 45 Emmitsburg children were involved in Thurmont Little League; eleven participated in Thurmont Babe Ruth; and 40 girls from the Emmitsburg area played on the Catoctin Recreation Softball team. Additionally, Mount St. Mary’s used the town’s fields about six times for games throughout the season and Mid-Maryland Travel Baseball used the fields 1-2 times per week for practice.

Of the six baseball/softball fields located in town, interest was shown for five. Field #1 would remain open for public use. With differing practice and game schedules, and overlapping interest shown for the same fields, town staff is requesting all interested organizations provide their schedules by early January so town staff may organize a set schedule so all groups may be able to use the fields.

After much discussion, Commissioners proposed waiving all fees for any group/organization to utilize the baseball fields in 2020. This will be re-evaluated next December to see if the town incurred any serious losses from waiving the fees.

Town staff will look for grants to help keep up with the costs. Already they have secured grant funding to install new bleachers, as well as pave some of the parking areas. Organizations will be asked to help clean up after games and practices to help keep up with the maintenance and cleanliness of the fields and surrounding areas.

The policy will be brought back during the January meeting with the newly proposed fee schedule.