Board to Review Updated Draft Agreements for Ballpark and Practice Field
Tonight, the Jones Board of Trustees will review updated draft agreements for the Kiwanis Ballpark and the Youth Sports Practice Field (Beatty-Mulhausen Park).
All versions remain in draft form and may be amended, revised, or modified by the Board before any final vote.
What Changed Since January 6?
The February drafts include several structural updates, including:
- Added mediation and venue language
- Clarification of infrastructure responsibility
- Provisions anticipating possible transfer to the Public Works Authority
- A right of first refusal should either property be considered for sale
The Ballpark agreement continues to reference DEQ oversight under the 2017 Memorandum of Agreement related to historical battery disposal at that site.
Environmental Context
The Jones Ballfields were previously remediated following the discovery of buried battery casing material. The site operates under a DEQ Memorandum of Agreement and soil management plan.
In 2024, DEQ also conducted sampling at Beatty-Mulhausen Park after receiving complaints regarding potential lead contamination. The report identified several soil samples exceeding the EPA’s residential screening level for lead.
However, the environmental acknowledgment language included in the January draft of the Practice Field agreement does not appear in the February version.
Both agreements remain in draft form and are subject to further discussion and possible amendment by the Board tonight.
