PLEASE DO NOT remove soccer fields. We need more, not less. Huge community for soccer and Vets Park is one of the nicest facilities around for soccer, but already way too few to accommodate the demand between rec and select teams.

barefoot said:

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PLEASE DO NOT remove soccer fields. We need more, not less. Huge community for soccer and Vets Park is one of the nicest facilities around for soccer, but already way too few to accommodate the demand between rec and select teams.

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Understood thanks for the feedback.

Respectfully

Yancy

The issue with removing soccer fields would be one of diminishing returns. With 13 full fields (more if small sided games are played) you are at a limit to the size of tournaments and events that can be brought in.

The two recent events in the last 3 weeks have both had to use offsite fields (the Cavalry event used 6 off site) and the one this last weekend actually extended to Hohlt park in Brenham.

Realistically, the event sizes in the next level/size (e.g US Youth Regionals) needs a complex with 20 fields. That size event comes with a corresponding hotel and food revenue and that infrastructure exists. The limitation is fields.

Cutting soccer fields reduces the event size and corresponding HOT and private sector income.

If the City wants to get into that next level, you need more not less.

Hey Mr. Yancy -- if we broaden this discussion, could you provide any insight as to parks and rec facilities beyond this baseball issue?

Are there plans for future mixed use facilities in existing parks? Is the city looking at building out larger facilities to attract the travel/tournament crowd?

ETA - could we sell Macy's and build more athletic fields with lights?

Thanks for starting this thread Bob. I posted this in the above Capital Projects stickie thread about the new fields:

All age groups, both LL and select ball, are being significantly affected by the Bachmann construction. My son plays 14U ball here in town for Twelve, and the only full sized fields periodically available from the city for them to practice on are Bee Creek and they're all dirt infields. Any rain = closed fields.


We practiced at Bombers Field some in the fall, but the competition to book time there increases during the Spring. A majority of the Twelve teams will have to practice in Franklin this Spring due to the limited number of fields in BCS. The construction at Bachmann and new fields at Veterans can't be done soon enough!

The conditions at Bombers are going downhill quick even for practice, and obviously a single full sized turfed field isn't adequate for tournaments. As others have mentioned, there's a dire need for full-sized fields for local team practices, games, an tournaments. My addtional $.02:

- Reach out to the local select organizations' like Twelve, Bucks, G1, & Renegades for their input on the fields/facility requirements
- Go visit other select baseball facilities in the area like Franklin Ranch, Diamonds at Daily Park, The Farm League, etc. for ideas
- FULL SIZED FIELDS ~400' CF (some facilities have temporary fence systems they bring in to shrink the outfields for younger age groups)
- I love a nice grass & dirt field, but all turf is the way to go for so you can move bases/mounds around to accommodate games for different age groups, durability, and drainage
- Plenty of space for teams to warm up, batting cages
- Covered/shaded flexible seating options, bleachers, seat backs, BYOChair, etc.
- The Ballpark at League City, formally Field of Dreams, has a nice 2nd floor enclosed/air conditioned restaurant, bar, seating area that's really nice when it's blazing hot outside
- A netting system that's large enough/tall enough so foul balls from fields aren't landing on adjacent fields delaying games/causing injury
- Onsite kitchen/concessions like the The Ranch & The Scrap Yards with plenty of food/drink options (I also like the food truck idea)
- Bathrooms, bathrooms, bathrooms - I love Franklin Ranch, but they don't have enough bathrooms and each one only has a single toilet, and one or two urinals which isn't near enough for players/fans

And as others have said, as B/CS continues to grow, the need for fields is going to continue to increase. Every local select baseball team from 8U-18U spends every other weekend in the fall/spring and summer for the high school kids, playing tournaments outside of the area. It will be fantastic to have a local facility to host tournaments and keep some of that restaurant, hotel, retail, and tax revenue local. What's the time line for the fields to be completed?

Bob Yancy said:

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Three councils ago a promise was made about Texas Independence Ballpark. That fell through due to poor soil conditions. We heard loud and clear that citizens wanted the ball fields.

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Where are you getting this? In Summer of 2022, city council voted to take out a loan for 4 crazy expensive baseball fields. This was in advance of a bond election where voters would decide on whether that was something they wanted. The bond would have been for an additional 4 fields. Mind you, this was the same city council that decided to purchase the old Macy's that October [edit: my mistake, it was August]. Also in October, the city broke ground on the insanely expensive project instead of waiting for the results of the bond election to see what voters actually wanted.

College Station voters, when give the opportunity in November 2022, declined to acquiesce to the boondoggle. I don't know where you are hearing "loud and clear that citizens wanted the ball fields." When they were asked, they voted "no."

Just because a council was on a goofy-streak in late 2022 doesn't mean you have to follow through with their bad ideas. Today's council can sell the old Macy's. Today's council can save taxpayer money and put the brakes on a roving boondoggle that voters said "no" to.

Cartographer said:

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Hey Mr. Yancy -- if we broaden this discussion, could you provide any insight as to parks and rec facilities beyond this baseball issue?

Are there plans for future mixed use facilities in existing parks? Is the city looking at building out larger facilities to attract the travel/tournament crowd?

ETA - could we sell Macy's and build more athletic fields with lights?

---

I plan on asking council to direct staff to provide a parks update similar to other police, fire, et al updates we get from time to time. I'd like to get a handle on how many facilities, courses, fields, courts, etc etc by sport category we actually have.

I'd like to really know how many of those support local and/or tourism and how many tourists and overnight stays. We have a lot of passive neighborhood parks I see empty a lot. I'm not chasing a pure ROI/tourism approach but it is important and I'd like us to really understand, strategically and in detail, the picture. We had one awhile back but it didn't really focus on utility. We also had a complex discussion on parks fees. I'm interested in a correlation of the two. We also have several under construction or in design. A lot of moving parts.

Right now, on this thread- I want to ensure we build the right baseball fields with the right amenities.

Respectfully

Yancy
.

Brian Alg said:

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Bob Yancy said:

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Three councils ago a promise was made about Texas Independence Ballpark. That fell through due to poor soil conditions. We heard loud and clear that citizens wanted the ball fields.

---

Where are you getting this? In Summer of 2022, city council voted to take out a loan for 4 crazy expensive baseball fields. This was in advance of a bond election where voters would decide on whether that was something they wanted. The bond would have been for an additional 4 fields. Mind you, this was the same city council that decided to purchase the old Macy's that October [edit: my mistake, it was August]. Also in October, the city broke ground on the insanely expensive project instead of waiting for the results of the bond election to see what voters actually wanted.

College Station voters, when give the opportunity in November 2022, declined to acquiesce to the boondoggle. I don't know where you are hearing "loud and clear that citizens wanted the ball fields." When they were asked, they voted "no."

Just because a council was on a goofy-streak in late 2022 doesn't mean you have to follow through with their bad ideas. Today's council can sell the old Macy's. Today's council can save taxpayer money and put the brakes on a roving boondoggle that voters said "no" to.

---

You largely have that right on the history. On the feedback, though, baseball has been the largest single category of discretionary spend demand since I've been elected. There are a lot of little league parents and club parents and coaches I hear from. Yours is the first voice in opposition to additional baseball fields I've heard.

If there are others I'm all ears, but these three fields have been approved by council and are currently in design. The citizens should have had the right to vote on Texas Independence Ballpark phase one, but I wasn't here then. What if the citizens wanted 4, but felt phase 2 consisting of a total of 8 was too much? We'll never know, but I invite anyone that disagrees with these 3 beyond yourself to let me know here, via email at byancy@cstx.gov or else wise.

Stipulated- you make a good point.

Respectfully

Yancy

BulldAg99 said:

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Thanks for starting this thread Bob. I posted this in the above Capital Projects stickie thread about the new fields:

All age groups, both LL and select ball, are being significantly affected by the Bachmann construction. My son plays 14U ball here in town for Twelve, and the only full sized fields periodically available from the city for them to practice on are Bee Creek and they're all dirt infields. Any rain = closed fields.


We practiced at Bombers Field some in the fall, but the competition to book time there increases during the Spring. A majority of the Twelve teams will have to practice in Franklin this Spring due to the limited number of fields in BCS. The construction at Bachmann and new fields at Veterans can't be done soon enough!

The conditions at Bombers are going downhill quick even for practice, and obviously a single full sized turfed field isn't adequate for tournaments. As others have mentioned, there's a dire need for full-sized fields for local team practices, games, an tournaments. My addtional $.02:

- Reach out to the local select organizations' like Twelve, Bucks, G1, & Renegades for their input on the fields/facility requirements
- Go visit other select baseball facilities in the area like Franklin Ranch, Diamonds at Daily Park, The Farm League, etc. for ideas
- FULL SIZED FIELDS ~400' CF (some facilities have temporary fence systems they bring in to shrink the outfields for younger age groups)
- I love a nice grass & dirt field, but all turf is the way to go for so you can move bases/mounds around to accommodate games for different age groups, durability, and drainage
- Plenty of space for teams to warm up, batting cages
- Covered/shaded flexible seating options, bleachers, seat backs, BYOChair, etc.
- The Ballpark at League City, formally Field of Dreams, has a nice 2nd floor enclosed/air conditioned restaurant, bar, seating area that's really nice when it's blazing hot outside
- A netting system that's large enough/tall enough so foul balls from fields aren't landing on adjacent fields delaying games/causing injury
- Onsite kitchen/concessions like the The Ranch & The Scrap Yards with plenty of food/drink options (I also like the food truck idea)
- Bathrooms, bathrooms, bathrooms - I love Franklin Ranch, but they don't have enough bathrooms and each one only has a single toilet, and one or two urinals which isn't near enough for players/fans

And as others have said, as B/CS continues to grow, the need for fields is going to continue to increase. Every local select baseball team from 8U-18U spends every other weekend in the fall/spring and summer for the high school kids, playing tournaments outside of the area. It will be fantastic to have a local facility to host tournaments and keep some of that restaurant, hotel, retail, and tax revenue local. What's the time line for the fields to be completed?

---

Great feedback thanks! I've spoken to a lot of those groups you mention. A little less than two years on timeline, that way when we beat that you'll be pleasantly surprised. :-)

Respectfully

Yancy

It will be much easier to get feedback if people know what kind of money y'all are talking about spending. From this point (it doesn't need to include all that has been spent so far), what is the range on what this is expected to cost going forward?

Brian Alg said:

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It will be much easier to get feedback if people know what kind of money y'all are talking about spending. From this point (it doesn't need to include all that has been spent so far), what is the range on what this is expected to cost going forward?

---

Approximately $15 million.

Respectfully

Yancy

https://wtaw.com/college-station-city-council-awards-a-1-6-million-dollar-design-contract-for-three-more-ballfields-at-veterans-park/

So that is without the additional bells and whistles that people are suggesting here. Those I am guessing could be millions more.

Thanks, that's useful to know.

aggiefan2002 said:

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Make one of the fields big enough/nice enough to get a team like the bombers to come play there either exhibition or long term. Travis field in Bryan is a dump; and it's still constantly busy because of lack of similar spaces.

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Travis Fields are some of the nicest we play on. Teams travel from out of BCS to play there and when they see that we are from BCS they go out of their way to say how nice the fields are at Travis.

The problem with them is that little league gets them for free. Teams would be happy to rent them but they will have one game going on one field but at no cost they don't care.

The concert risers to put chairs on is a really nice setup. If you are looking for ideas.

Also, do you have figures on

Expected utilization?
Expected annual operation and maintenance costs?
How long before they need to be resurfaced and at what cost?

Bob Yancy said:

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Brian Alg said:

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It will be much easier to get feedback if people know what kind of money y'all are talking about spending. From this point (it doesn't need to include all that has been spent so far), what is the range on what this is expected to cost going forward?

---

Approximately $15 million.

Respectfully

Yancy

https://wtaw.com/college-station-city-council-awards-a-1-6-million-dollar-design-contract-for-three-more-ballfields-at-veterans-park/

---

What is the City's budget for Parks relative to other departments? For example, how much do we spend on public works or public safety compared to parks?

Can we expect to see a "Parks Fee" tagged added to the list of fees on our utility bills in the future to cover the ongoing maintenance costs?

iisanaggie said:

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Bob Yancy said:

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iisanaggie said:

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Are these being used for Little Leagie fields primarily or for tournament teams? If for LL, do NOT do what Bryan did to the United fields by Bomber Stadium. They have a private company running them and have completely destroyed the community feel of them. We thought we were getting nice fields for our local leagues. What we got was a restricted game and practice schedule, crazy expensive concessions, and a completely fenced off property which can not be accessed easily by our local teams.

Even if they are primarily for tournament ball, please find a way to give priority to local teams with availability and pricing. Also, some batting cages and bullpens open to the public (when not being used for practices or games) would be awesome!

---

Thanks for this feedback. Are you referring to the Travis Fields? If so, my understanding is they are packed and well utilized. No? Is your feedback because you would rather have a quiet place for local kids, rather than a big tournament and tourism draw? And if that's so, how do you get both? I thought tournament play was only a short, specific and limited time during the year, with local play the rest of the time. Please explain further.

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I apologize for the confusion. I was referring to the Travis fields. These fields used to be run by the Bryan United Little Little. The city came in and sold us on the new fields for our league. I called Parks and Rec and was told that if the fields were built, United would still have first dibs. We also were promised at least one full-sized (high school) field. Then the city let a private company take over and took away the governance by United. We also didn't get the full size field.

Now, the contracted company runs the show and limits when United has access. They are full all of the time, just not with the entity that used them for decades. I still believe that our local kids deserve to be able to.use nice facilities and not be run off because we don't make money for the city.

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Perhaps we can learn from that. Thank you.

Respectfully

Yancy

MeKnowNot said:

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Bob Yancy said:

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Brian Alg said:

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It will be much easier to get feedback if people know what kind of money y'all are talking about spending. From this point (it doesn't need to include all that has been spent so far), what is the range on what this is expected to cost going forward?

---

Approximately $15 million.

Respectfully

Yancy

https://wtaw.com/college-station-city-council-awards-a-1-6-million-dollar-design-contract-for-three-more-ballfields-at-veterans-park/

---

What is the City's budget for Parks relative to other departments? For example, how much do we spend on public works or public safety compared to parks?

Can we expect to see a "Parks Fee" tagged added to the list of fees on our utility bills in the future to cover the ongoing maintenance costs?

---

Your approved general fund budget reflects expenditures of $12.4 million FY25, with $14,030,297 in capital projects outlay in FY25.

Parks equates to 10% of your general fund. Police are 26% and Fire is 22%, respectively.

Yes, most fields will have a rental fee associated. There may be public uses for no charge during the off season, but I'm not certain.

Respectfully

Yancy

Bob Yancy said:

---

MeKnowNot said:

---

Bob Yancy said:

---

Brian Alg said:

---

It will be much easier to get feedback if people know what kind of money y'all are talking about spending. From this point (it doesn't need to include all that has been spent so far), what is the range on what this is expected to cost going forward?

---

Approximately $15 million.

Respectfully

Yancy

https://wtaw.com/college-station-city-council-awards-a-1-6-million-dollar-design-contract-for-three-more-ballfields-at-veterans-park/

---

What is the City's budget for Parks relative to other departments? For example, how much do we spend on public works or public safety compared to parks?

Can we expect to see a "Parks Fee" tagged added to the list of fees on our utility bills in the future to cover the ongoing maintenance costs?

---

Your approved general fund budget reflects expenditures of $12.4 million FY25, with $14,030,297 in capital projects outlay in FY25.

Parks equates to 10% of your general fund. Police are 26% and Fire is 22%, respectively.

Yes, most fields will have a rental fee associated. There may be public uses for no charge during the off season, but I'm not certain.

Respectfully

Yancy

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10% of 12.4 million = $1.24 million. That's fantastic!

MeKnowNot said:

---

Bob Yancy said:

---

MeKnowNot said:

---

Bob Yancy said:

---

Brian Alg said:

---

It will be much easier to get feedback if people know what kind of money y'all are talking about spending. From this point (it doesn't need to include all that has been spent so far), what is the range on what this is expected to cost going forward?

---

Approximately $15 million.

Respectfully

Yancy

https://wtaw.com/college-station-city-council-awards-a-1-6-million-dollar-design-contract-for-three-more-ballfields-at-veterans-park/

---

What is the City's budget for Parks relative to other departments? For example, how much do we spend on public works or public safety compared to parks?

Can we expect to see a "Parks Fee" tagged added to the list of fees on our utility bills in the future to cover the ongoing maintenance costs?

---

Your approved general fund budget reflects expenditures of $12.4 million FY25, with $14,030,297 in capital projects outlay in FY25.

Parks equates to 10% of your general fund. Police are 26% and Fire is 22%, respectively.

Yes, most fields will have a rental fee associated. There may be public uses for no charge during the off season, but I'm not certain.

Respectfully

Yancy

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10% of 12.4 million = $1.24 million. That's fantastic!

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Sorry but no. It's the other way around. 10% of the general fund expenditures is Parks, and that number $12.4m.

Respectfully

Bob Y

Quick question…..(and no I didn't go through all of these responses to see if it was asked or not) regarding where they were going to put more baseball fields and then that was nixed due to soil issues, isn't there a new project/bldg set for that area? Or was I just imagining I saw something about that?

Bob, we were a softball family in the first decade of the 2000s, and our teams could use any if the fields at Central, Bee Creek, Anderson, and Parkway by reserving them for a small fee. If the fields were not reserved, we could use them for free. I would suggest the same should be true for these baseball fields.

BucketofBalls99 said:

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Quick question…..(and no I didn't go through all of these responses to see if it was asked or not) regarding where they were going to put more baseball fields and then that was nixed due to soil issues, isn't there a new project/bldg set for that area? Or was I just imagining I saw something about that?

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Yes, Texas Independence Park may well be one of coolest parks, if not the coolest, in town when finished. Once the soil issue was discovered, staff and council pivoted quick to ensure the infrastructure installed by that time wasn't wasted. The citizens were engaged to identify what they wanted and their voices were heard.

It's an exciting design with lots of exciting features. I'm still not satisfied that the design engineer failed us with inadequate soil testing and has yet to be held accountable, but I'm more than satisfied with staff's flexibility and speed in addressing the problem.

Respectfully

Yancy

https://www.kbtx.com/2024/08/09/college-station-city-council-approves-texas-independence-park-master-plan/

taxpreparer said:

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Bob, we were a softball family in the first decade of the 2000s, and our teams could use any if the fields at Central, Bee Creek, Anderson, and Parkway by reserving them for a small fee. If the fields were not reserved, we could use them for free. I would suggest the same should be true for these baseball fields.

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Duly noted. Thank you.

Respectfully

Yancy

Where will attendees park for the State 7-on-7 tournament now? Will the added parking be sufficient to accommodate the crowds?

Are the softball fields being converted for dual use? If so, does this mean the removal of adult leagues and softball tournaments to prioritize baseball? Not a good solution.

If the goal is to benefit the baseball community, this doesn't seem like the right location. Three fields won't provide long-term valuethis needs to be done right, not pieced together in an already busy park.

Frequent changes in city managers, staff, and council members seem to continuously impact the park's vision.

I want to make sure. Did y'all figure this out before you started spending the millions?

Brian Alg said:

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Also, do you have figures on

Expected utilization?
Expected annual operation and maintenance costs?
How long before they need to be resurfaced and at what cost?

---

Brian Alg said:

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I want to make sure. Did y'all figure this out before you started spending the millions?

Brian Alg said:

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Also, do you have figures on

Expected utilization?
Expected annual operation and maintenance costs?
How long before they need to be resurfaced and at what cost?

---

---

1) Utilization will be high. The city has a shortage of baseball fields.

2) The city has budgeted $2,329,084 in FY25 to maintain the eastern park district, of which Veterans is a part. Individual park expense data is likely available, but I don't have that at this time. One of the things that was attractive about Veterans Park is existing infrastructure is there, plus maintenance crews, so the increase in maintenance will be incremental to the new fields.

3) If the final decision is to artificial turf the entire surfaces, the maintenance will be minimal until it needs replacing in approximately 12 years. So it'll be approximately $2m in 2024 dollars in 14 years (2 yrs before it'll open still.) This is based on turf replacement on the soccer fields just last year. That old turf will be reutilized at the new batting cages and at the live fire law enforcement range.

https://brazoslife.com/travis-fields-2025-prime-spring-season/

Bob - take a day and go check out the ranch community park.

https://www.thefranklinranch.com/