WARREN PARKS Packard to be sole city-run facility

High school and summer sports are scheduled to use fields at Lincoln Park.
By AMANDA C. DAVIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- As it looks now, Packard Park will be the only city-run park open this summer.
Frank Tempesta, the city's director of operations, told Packard Park Board on Thursday the city will maintain the lower portion of the park and bathrooms. Baseball and softball fields will remain closed.
"We don't have the money to line the fields, maintain the fields," and operate night lighting, he said.
Area sports leagues have used many of the city's more than 20 parks for youth and adult competition in summer.
Parks were closed in January 2000, when other cuts were made and employees were laid off to avoid a budget shortfall.
Community efforts last year opened Packard, Perkins, Burbank and Lincoln parks.
Court order: Judge Thomas Swift of Trumbull County Probate Court ordered last year that some Packard trust fund money be freed up to open Packard Park. Private donations also were used.
City Councilman Dan Polivka, D-at large, formed a "Save Our Little Leagues" committee that raised money for the cause. The committee is at it again this year, looking at ways to open more parks.
The city schools board of education decided last year to release the city from a $1-a-year lease agreement to maintain Lincoln Park, which is next to Lincoln Elementary on Atlantic Street.
Linda Metzendorf, Packard board trustee, said city schools will maintain Lincoln this summer as well.
Paul Traina, the school district's athletic director, said Lincoln's three softball fields and one baseball field will be used by Warren's junior varsity and varsity softball teams. Teams at John F. Kennedy High School also may use the fields, he noted.
Also scheduled to play at Lincoln are the Eastside Girls Softball league, with players between 9 and 14, and the newly forming Warren United Baseball League for 13- and 14-year-old boys.
Traina said 55 boys recently signed up for the league, and additional sign-ups are planned.
Maintenance issues: Packard trustee Raymond Bagaglia said city unions have asked for and accepted raises, but they haven't agreed to let summer leagues take over maintenance of parks because of city layoffs.
Other board members said officials are hesitant to let leagues maintain fields because of liability issues.
"If parks are going to be open, it's probably going to have to be a private group that opens them," Metzendorf said.
Music hall: In related news, Packard trustees and W.D. Packard Music Hall officials are still looking for ways to make the hall self-sustaining.
Budget woes prompted the city to cut its subsidy to the music hall.
Trustee John Bentz said officials are working with Kent State University Trumbull Campus on a three- to five-year plan to make the hall more marketable.
The city said it would help fund music hall operations for six months this year. The city has said it will help fund the second half of the year if the hall becomes self-sustaining.