Parks Board Approves 3-Field Upgrade at MLK Rec Center

MLK current layout (left) and planned field expansion (right).

In a unanimous 7-0 vote, the City’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee (PRAC) Tuesday endorsed a proposal to reconfigure and expand the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center and Charles Albert Field into a three-field softball complex.

"This is a one-and-done opportunity," said Chair Camera during deliberations. "Whenever we have an opportunity to use the land and get the most out of it, we need to do so. We need to stretch our acreage as best we possibly can."

The endorsement will now go to the city commission for approval of the project.

The recommendation follows months of site analysis, stakeholder meetings, and input from the Elm Street Little League, which has seen significant growth in girls softball participation.

“In that time, the league has grown from four teams with about 50 kids to eight teams with about 85 kids,” said Elm Street President Miranda Ivey. “We are currently using a practice field with no dugouts and no lights as a game field.”

Glen Akramoff, the city's Capital Project Manager, presented the design options and rationale.

"You can only mow the grass and take care of the grass so long," Akramoff said, noting the site’s aging infrastructure and outdated layout. “This has been around a long time, and it’s really done a good job for the community. It’s just time to replace it.”

Glenn Akramoff

The $2 million project will fully rebuild the fields and surrounding facilities. Akramoff described the proposed site as “fully walkable,” with new trails looping the perimeter, regraded land for better drainage and grass health, and a centralized facility with concessions, restrooms, and an elevated announcer’s booth. Parking capacity would more than triple, expanding from 22 to 70–75 spaces.

The proposed redesign includes three youth ball fields, updated walkways, a new central facility with concessions and restrooms, relocated batting cages, and expanded parking.

“This complex that we currently have there is in much need of an upgrade,” said Parks and Recreation Director Scott Mikelson. “If we don't do anything to this site right now, we're gonna have to go in there and repair all the fencing anyways.”

Several members of the public voiced support for the three-field configuration. “We need a three-field complex,” said girls softball coach Robert Mullins. “I don’t think we’ll be able to really grow this any further if we don’t. We’re not doing our girls justice.”

League Safety Officer Steve Gluck emphasized the importance of equal access and opportunity.

“These girls deserve as good a field as the boys have or anybody else has,” he said. “We have that opportunity, we have that capability, and we have that kind of talent.”

While concerns were raised over pavilion placement, parking capacity, and restroom access, the board agreed those design details could be addressed in the next phase.

“We will take all of that into consideration,” Mikelson assured board members.

Board members dismissed alternative options such as building only two fields or deferring the project entirely.

“I just personally don't see any point in doing this project if we're not doing three fields,” said Member Sheilia Cocchi. “It can't be that much of a cost savings to not do it.”

The motion to proceed with a three-field configuration passed without opposition. If approved by the city commission, a final design and updated cost estimate will be brought back to PRAC for review at a later date.