WARREN Deal OKs baseball at Burbank Park

Under the deal, the fields at Burbank Park will be maintained by volunteers.
By AMANDA C. DAVIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- If you open it, they will come.
For a year now, city officials have struck out over their controversial decision to close city parks, but some of the parents, coaches and baseball players who railed against that decision are gearing up to play ball.
City officials, council members and area baseball league representatives met Wednesday and reached a compromise to open Burbank Park for summer baseball competition.
Councilman Dan Polivka, D-at large, said about 39 baseball and softball teams will begin practicing this week for the season that begins in May.
City operations workers are represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Ohio Council 8, Local 74.
Here's the compromise: The union has agreed to allot 10 manpower hours each week during the summer to maintain grounds outside the fences of Burbank's four diamonds.
Polivka said parents, coaches and others will volunteer for upkeep of the fields.
Using volunteers to maintain fields became a bone of contention for city workers. A few are still laid off because of budget cuts last year that closed city parks.
Burbank will be open to youths between 6 and 15 who play for Burbank Baseball League and Warren Baseball League, which in the past played at Perkins Park.
Burbank, off Tod Avenue Northwest, will be the only city park open for summer competition. Packard Park will be open, but fields will not be maintained.
Vince Flask, president of Burbank Baseball League, said he wishes more city parks could open, but noted he is glad some kids will have a chance to play this summer.
City schools will handle upkeep at the district-owned Lincoln Park so school teams have a place to play.
Four of the city's more than 20 parks opened last year thanks to a one-time shot in the arm from Judge Thomas Swift of Trumbull County Probate Court, who freed up money from a Packard Band trust fund.
Expenses: Polivka said it will cost $3,000 to $3,500 to operate lights for night games at Burbank.
This money will come from the cash-strapped general fund, appropriated by council, unless donations come in, he said.
Frank Tempesta, the city's director of operations, estimates it also will cost $3,000 to $3,500 to allot 10 hours of manpower per week throughout the summer.
Opening one park is the best compromise officials could reach, Tempesta said. "It's not ideal, but it's the best plan we could come up with at this time."