Tigers

As many of you know, I have been working to find a softball field for the girls to practice. Highland Oaks Park is reserved in the afternoons through February for the middle school teams and, of course, there are no lights there for evening practice sessions.

Since late December, I have been trying to rent the softball fields at Ives Estates Park - the Miami-Dade County park just west of I-95, where we held our Fall Ball games. I was first told by the Park Manager, Mitch Burrrows, that he could not rent me the field until Ives Optimists Little League gave him a schedule of when they planned to use the field. Ives Optimists has a permit with Miami-Dade County Parks that gives them first choice on field use and times. Mr. Burrows called me the first week of January to inform me that Ives Optimists planned to use the fields Tuesday - Friday, 6:30pm to 9:30 pm and Saturdays 9:00 am - 8:30 pm. I found that hard to believe given that Ives Optimists has yet to hold their registration and their season typically starts in March.

I then contacted Commissioner Barbara Jordan's office because Ives Estates Park lies in her district. I was told to get in touch with a Mark Brown who should be able to assist us. I have left three messages for Mr. Brown and have heard nothing.

I was able to speak with Carol Gibson, Mr. Burrows' supervisor. She met with Ives Optimists and expressed our desire to rent the field. Ives Optimists insisted that they would be using the field Tuesday - Friday, 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm and Saturdays 9am- 8:30 pm beginning January 20. I was told that we MIGHT be able to get the fields on Saturdays if they were not being used by Ives Optimists. Yesterday evening - January 20 - I went to Ives Estates Park and, lo and behold, the only people using either of the two softball fields was an adult soccer team. I walked to the park's information board which displayed the flyer for Ives Optimists Little League which listed league play from January - May. I called the phone number listed on the flyer - (305) 653-3977. It is a non-working number.

NMB Little League was willing to rent the fields at least five times this month. Instead, the county is forgoing that revenue to reserve space for a group that not only has no intention, but does not have the participants, to properly utilize the space.

I need your help in contacting the people listed below. Please express, as Miami-Dade County taxpayers, that we would like to insure that our parks are being utilized. And as parents, we would like our girls to have a place to play. Please also express concern that Ives Optimists is abusing its permit with the County which allows it first choice on utilization of space at Ives Estates Park. Again, the County has the opportunity to earn much needed revenue from leasing the space to NMB Little League. It is throwing away that opportunity while also denying our girls softball teams the opportunity to play.

Commissioner Barbara Jordan's Office - (305) 474-3011

Commissioner Sally Heyman's Office - (305) 787-5999

Carol Gibson - (305) 654-1169

Again, I appreciate your help. Please let me know if you are able to make any headway.

Gene 305-903-6607