Scott Park Softball Fields

That's a shame; this is the first time in 10 years I’m not out at Scott Park playing softball. No reflection on the Toledo or the fields, but we have an aging team with aging kids and committing one night per week for twelve weeks was simple getting too hard to juggle in the summer.

A few years ago, the city leagues were a real cluster, but thing have been pretty smooth the last couple of years. I suggest heading over to City of Toledo Athletic department over in Ottawa Park and complain in person. Put Sean or Sheila on the spot.

As for losing teams to the surrounding area, I think with the economy the way it, it’s harder for teams to get sponsors and players to justify the expense. It used to cost my team around $600-$700 to play a season in the city league. That’s not chump change. Of course we self sponsored, so we each paid around $65 each.

Pacesetter, while kept up much better, are WAY more expensive to play at. Or least they were when I played their years ago. Also, it’s a heck of a drive for our players to get out there on game nights.

You're probably looking at just under $1,000 for a 12-14 game season plus tournament at Pacesetter (this is Co-Ed.) $550 league fee, umps are $22 per game.. if you have to buy t-shirts, etc.

The fields are great at Pacesetter - but they are severly lacking in the communication/organization aspect of everything. It's quite frustrating.

We're likely going to check out Line Drive Sportz at the Rec. Center in the fall. We played out there in the fall, but it was being run by the Toledo Sport and Social Club. Line Drive has now taken over. Depending on how that goes - we may switch there next spring.

My husband's team switched from the Toledo city leagues to Pacesetter this year, and the team has been extremely happy with the change.

And, selfishly on my part, I'm happy because we're within walking distance of Pacesetter and they have a nice playground. The past few years, I've refused to go to my husband's softball games - didn't feel safe taking my kids to all the fields he was playing at in the city leagues.

I can say I never felt unsafe at Scott Park. After all the years of me coaching/playing I new most of the other coaches, umps and city department people.

I'm not sure how much you know about dealing with a program like a softball league, but consider this:
Turn over their complex to who? Who in their right mind wants to deal with the hassle of running a public league? It's not a financial windfall by any means. First off, unless you can find some "hidden" money in the city's budget to help fund it, you are going to have to rely solely on entry fees. And out of those entry fees you are going to replace those expensive lights? No way. Plus, you are going to have to find someone to work for free to run the league.
I'm assuming that you did not attend any of the city council's meetings when they watned to cut the recreation department's budget?
The recreation division's budget is one of the most cut departments in the city and they have done a great job at keeping things running as well as they can.
I know some people who work in the recreation department and the horror stories of the behaviors of some people are simply outrageous. The fighting and destruction of property from those who have no respect for it is horrid.
I do not know anything about pacesetter, but I'm willing to believe that they are not solely funded by entry fees.

Sensor - I think I would have been ok with Scott Park. But my husband was playing at City Park and a couple of other field that I can't recall.

Hockeyfan - Pacesetter is part of Sylvania Rec, which does receive tax dollars. (1.86% of my property taxes, according to the AERIS breakdown) :)

I could run the rec dept myself.

Get the lights fixed, its a joke....

^^^ haha. Create a proposal for you to take over, and submit it.

kwi50-You couldn't wipe the ass of anyone in the recreation division if you gave it your best shot.

Did you happen to attend any city council meetings when they discussed the recreation budget? Didn't think so.

Instead of bitching and waiting for someone to do it for you, why don't you try and help raise the funds? You could do a big story about how dangerous the lack of lighting is and that money is needed to fix the lights. Maybe 5/3 field would let you "borrow" a few lights from there. You could help out the recreation department, your league, and make yourself feel pretty good in the process.
or
You could just keep bitching about it behind your keyboard and criticize everyone who busts their asses just to keep the league running.
or
If it's too dangerous and the facility is not up to your standards, stay at home and drink your beer. That's pretty safe.

Don't play after dark?

I'll be at Scott Park next Tues @ 7:15 and 8:30, Hockey Fan, why dont you come on out?

Maybe i could wipe your ass for you if u need it too?

Your a joke....

People who don't know the difference between "your" and "you're" are a bigger joke but whatevs....

No thanks. Sounds like all you do is complain and I have little patience for that.

thx grammer police.

have fun with your cat.

this was a pretty simple post, and it turned back on me some how? Maybe China can take over the rec dept too....

Grammar. Spelling police.

kwi50-
Instead of complaining on a message board, I took the time to actually inquire about the lights with the recreation department. Turns out that the light poles got hit with lightning or similar and blew out some lights. They were unaware of it and had a crew out there to check which lights were out and have replacements scheduled for today (Friday), but with the rain, they might not get to them til another day.

So what have we learned today? Wasting your energy getting on a message board complaining and insulting people, might be better spent making a simple phone call and/or an inquiry to someone who can actually do something.
Even though there are those out there that will criticize, insult, and act like idiots, they sometimes get what they want or need.
The recreation department does do a great job. But in order to take care of your concerns and issues, they need to be able to hear them, (refer back to message board complain), and have the resourses to do something about it.

You're Welcome Asshole. I'm sure the recreation department appreciates your wonderful comments about them too. Maybe if your knuckles stop dragging on the ground long enough, you could write a simple thank you to the rec department and/or city for the great job they're doing.

While at Bowman Park last night, I did notice that all of the lights at the baseball field were operational. I thought it odd that if the City was ignoring Scott Park, what were the chances that the Bowman lights were 100% OK? I guess hockeyfan found the answer.

HF-your my hero!!!

but really lighting.....

Whatever.
I like my city and appreciate those who work in it. When there is a legit complaint and/or concern about something, ask the right person or department. Don't just complain and criticize those who are doing their jobs. You know, like what you did above about the recreation department.
You could have gotten the same result if your post here was instead done over the phone to the recreation department or your league manager.

They never did fix the lights there. It got pretty dangerous playing outfield on certain fields.

I heard a rumur that UT is just going do put solar panels over those fields? Maybe why the City never bothered to fix the lights?

Like I originally posted. Contact the recreation department or city. Toledo Talk, while an informative message board, has nothing to do with the lights at Scott Park.