WARREN Shortfall will close city parks to summer youth recreation

Even if the income-tax levy passes in May, there won't be time to organize the sports programs.
By AMANDA C. DAVIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- City parks will not open this year for summer youth recreation unless outside funding becomes available soon, a city official says.
Mayor Hank Angelo has said that of all the city's more than 20 parks, only the bottom level of Packard Park will be open this summer, but not for organized sports, because fields will not be maintained.
City schools will provide upkeep for school teams playing at Lincoln Park, which the district owns.
Fred Harris, the city's safety-service director, said he will call a meeting soon for area league representatives to explain the city does not have the money to open any parks.
In a one-time deal last year, Judge Thomas Swift of Trumbull County Probate Court freed enough Packard Park trust fund money to open a few parks.
That's not happening this year, Harris noted.
A proposed 0.5-percent income tax increase will go before voters in May.
Even if it passes, Harris said, area leagues will not have enough time to organize for the season.
At Burbank Park: Vince Flask, president of Burbank Baseball Leagues, which play at Burbank Park on the city's northwest side, said practice is set to begin Sunday for teams that have already been picked.
The regular season at Burbank is scheduled to open May 1, as organizers are proceeding as if parks will open, Flask said.
Money will have to be returned to parents if the city does not find a way to open one or more parks, he noted.
Lee DeJacimo is president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Ohio Council 8, Local 74, the union covering many city employees, including those in the operations department, which handles park maintenance.
He said union employees are willing to work with city officials and representatives of youth recreation leagues to ensure kids have a place to play ball.
He said one or two operations department employees are still laid off from when officials said in January 2000 that cuts were needed to head off a budget shortfall.
Some operations employees have been moved to other departments not supported by the cash-strapped general fund.
Union's offer: DeJacimo said the union proposed that there be two full-time operations employees to maintain fields in some parks. The union would then agree to sign a waiver, saying that volunteers would be permitted to spruce up parks, cut grass and trim weeds, he said.
Using volunteers or others to maintain city parks would violate the union's contract because some employees are still laid off.
"We thought [the proposal] was fair," DeJacimo said, explaining that city administrators weren't satisfied with it. "We're trying to work with them. We're just looking to protect our jobs."
Flask said about 100 teams, made up of boys and girls ages 6 and 12, use Burbank in the summer for baseball and softball.
About 200 to 300 boys sign up for Burbank leagues most years, Flask said, but only 80 signed up last year, as many joined other cities' summer leagues when parks closed.
He said he's "very determined and still somewhat hopeful" parks will be open, and explained he's heard that upset parents are preparing to take up the issue with the press and city hall.
What's being done: City Councilman Dan Polivka, D-at large, has organized the "Save Our Little Leagues" committee, which is trying to find ways to open some parks.
As a last resort, Polivka said he asked the city law department to look into the legality of leasing Burbank Park to the league for $1 so they could maintain fields this year.
He doesn't know if that's an option, but said summer recreation provides a positive outlet for kids and keeps them out of trouble.
"The union and the administration need to work something out," he said. "I don't think the kids should be put in the middle of this."