Editor's Note: This is a two-part series on challenges associated with Crestview's growth and its recreation facilities' limitations. The conclusion appears in the News Bulletin's April 25-28 Weekend Edition.
CRESTVIEW — Once a sleepy North Okaloosa County community, Crestview has experienced a population boom that has seen the number of residents more than double the past 25 years.
Residents see the influx result in traffic jams and crowded schools. If you have a child involved in the Crestview Parks and Recreation Department’s baseball or softball programs, you've seen it there, too.
VIDEO: Crestview’s Public Services director discusses the increase in children playing sports>>
And a number of readers have asked us to report on the issue.
"CNB … please find why we have the least amount of space for athletics in our area," Kristof Hill said on our Facebook page. "One (tee-ball) field for 22 teams.
“It’s a dilemma,” said Wayne Steele, Crestview’s Public Services director who oversees the parks and recreation complexes. “It’s not just the city’s, it’s all of ours. I’m a citizen just like anybody else. My children played ball in the programs just like everybody else.
"I know the needs here, and it’s a dilemma that we all face, and we should all help to find a solution.”
'BROKE THE THRESHOLD'
Crestview’s youth baseball and softball programs have seen unprecedented growth in recent years, Steele said.
“We’ve definitely experienced an increase in the number of players in the programs,” he said.
In 2014, there were 82 youth baseball and softball teams and 12 adult softball teams, according to Steele. “This year, we had a total of 1,073 (ages 4-13)," he said. "In 2012, we had 770. In 2013, we had 800 and something. Last year, we jumped and broke the threshold of 1,000.”
In other words, since 2012, there’s been a 43 percent increase in the number of North Okaloosa children playing baseball and softball on Crestview ball fields.
Steele said 1,106 children initially signed up to play this year; 33 dropped out and received refunds.
Almost half the children who use the city facilities live outside Crestview city limits.
“… What I found out this year is 583 of those participants live in the city and 523 live outside of the city,” whether from Baker or Laurel Hill, Steele said.
Chuck Powell, who oversaw the Parks and Recreation Department for almost 15 years, said those 50-50 numbers have been consistent for several years.
“It shows us that there isn’t any program like ours that parents can take the children and get them to — at least in our area," Steele said.
MORE BALL FOR THE BUCK
By any standard, Crestview's youth sports programs are some of the least expensive in the area.
And the city has not increased registration fees in 17 years.
Crestview residents pay $60 per child to play baseball or softball. The same registration fee applies for participation in football, basketball, soccer or cheerleading. Those living outside city limits pay $65 per child.
Meanwhile, Baker's youth leagues charge $85 per sport per child, according to the Baker Area Youth Association's website.Niceville's Recreation Department charges $70 to play youth soccer. Teen baseball players pay $125 to join the Niceville Valparaiso Little League, according to the league's website. Walton County Recreation charges $90 per baseball player.
“There’s none that is close to us,” Steele said, comparing Crestview's rates to other areas.
USED AS NEEDED
The city owns two complexes that have baseball and softball fields. Durell Lee Park on First Street is where most younger children's games are played. Old Spanish Trail Park on Stillwell Boulevard is used for adult softball games.
Teams practice at several locations around town including Allen Park on McClelland Street, and Sandspur Field and Richbourg E.S.E. School, both on North Avenue East.
In addition, the city has an agreement with Okaloosa County to use the Garden City complex. Steele said they try to get the older leagues to play there.
“During the week, we play every night except Wednesday (and Sunday),” Steele said.
“Right now, we have eight different locations we can use for practice and play. We only play games on six fields, and that’s four fields at Durrell Lee and two fields at Old Spanish Trail that the city owns.”
Still, Durrell Lee's fields get the most use, he said.
“We are playing two games on four fields every night except for Wednesday (and Sunday),” Steele said. “And then Saturday we use field one for make-up for tee-ball games and coach pitch. We play six games Saturday on field two — and that’s a coach pitch to 10-year- olds.
“Field three is four games of 12-year-olds. Field four is used for six games and that’s two coach pitch and (two) junior softball.”
Garden City's fields, which are less than 10 minutes north of town, were first used for practice and makeup games, Steele said. “It started out as an as need basis,” he said. “We are using them now almost every day for practice.
“And for Saturdays, we use them for games. We also use them (for games) on Tuesday and Thursday.”
PARKING WOES
The biggest challenge at Durrell Lee isn’t the number of games being played, but rather the number of available parking spaces. There are 120 parking spaces and six handicap spots at Durell Lee. And there’s limited overflow parking.
On any given night, 50-60 players will use each field at Durrell Lee. Multiply that by the four fields and there are close to 225-250 players and their families there.
“Our problem is not that we could not run the amount of games on our field; it’s the parking,” Steele said. “With that many games going, you have people coming in before the other teams leave, and it became a really big problem."
One Facebook fan agreed.
"All we have is one baseball complex with a handful of fields, where you literally are taking your own life in your own hands to get in and out of the parking lot," she said.
Steele has some theories about why parking is so congested at Durrell Lee.
“The interesting thing is tee-ball takes up more parking,” he said. “They take up the smallest field for a field area, but they take up the most parking. You’ve got parents and grandparents that come to see the tee-ball, and a lot of times the older siblings.
“Whereas if you’ve got a teenager playing, it’s usually just the parent and maybe a grandparent. It’s different with small children. We all like to go see them in that age range because they are much cuter at that time.”
Steele said he understands the problems, and his department has solutions for them.
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Coming soon: Read about the Crestview Parks and Recreation Department's plans for expanding athletic facilities and potential solutions for current concerns.
EmailNews Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview's population growth brings overcrowded ball fields