Tournament organizer, Park Board debate turf fields improvements — and who should pay for them

QUINCY — Darin Dodd came to Wednesday night’s Quincy Park Board meeting with questions about issues with baseball/softball fields he rents for his weekend Qtown Tournaments.

He wasn’t happy with the answers, but Park Board President Mark Philpot asked Dodd to “stay connected” and “work towards a solution collectively.”

Dodd spoke at the beginning of the meeting, and the rules were suspended to allow him to engage with the commissioners for nearly 40 minutes. He raised concerns with the two fields that were built on the site of the former Wavering Pool. Turf was installed at the former T-ball fields last year. However, Dodd brought up a drainage issue on the south field, protective fencing on both fields and a previous request to move the fences back to accommodate games for older players.

“Last spring, we were rained out for four of our first five tournaments, but I knew the Park District was still getting the fields ready, and it was going to be rough that first year,” Dodd said. “(Director of Parks Matt Higley and Executive Director Rome Frericks) explained they would address it in the fall. The fall rolls around, and I trusted that what was promised was going to be done.

“But when I went out there on Nov. 1, it didn’t look any different. There was no grass coming up. There was no dirt in the lower spots on the back of the fence. Nothing was graded out or trenched out. Basically, the water is coming off the infield and (pooling) in the outfield.”

The south field was not playable for games on April 5, forcing Dodd to move games to Hannibal. He recently consulted two landscaping companies who told him dirt needs to be added in the outfield and sloped to a creek south of the field.

“The fact that it wasn’t addressed seriously in the fall, it’s frustrating,” Dodd said. “A lot of money and time went into this.”

Dodd also said he had previously discussed with Frericks that the fences on the fields need to be moved back 25 to 30 feet. 

“I can’t bring teams of 9- and 10-year-olds in here and put them with a fence where it’s just too short,” he said.

Dodd also said, “If you say you’re going to do something, and you put it in writing, then you’ve got to do it. People want to have trust and faith in their government. Well, here we are.”

Higley said Park District employees overseeded the low spot in the outfield “several times last fall.”

“We’re seeded again this spring, and we’re trying to get grass to grow,” he said. “But with the spring we’ve had, it’s tough to get grass to grow.”

Frericks added that field has received “a little over five inches” of rain this spring.

Frericks also said that, “above and beyond budget,” the Park District spent $52,569 on those fields last year. This year’s figure is at $5,315, “and we’re not done yet,” he added.

“I’ll share with you that the Park District remains committed to honoring this partnership, but I’m going to be very frank,” Philpot said. “We have budgeted a set amount for this project, and Rome and his team have spent above and beyond that. So the asks that you’re requesting are difficult to fulfill. One requests you have is that we move the fencing back further. That has to be financed from somewhere. What you’re basically asking is you’re asking the taxpayers of Quincy to finance a for-profit venture.”

Dodd and the Park District signed a contract in November 2023 that says Dodd would pay $100,000 over 10 years to have first right of refusal on dates on the fields from April to June. 

“This 10-year agreement … will help the Park District make additional future improvements to the fencing, lighting and scoreboards,” the contract read.

The contract also said the outfield fence and backstop “will be improved” on the south field. However, it did not say how or when.

“Staff will set aside $50,000 in 2025 for the second field for fencing improvements,” the contract read.

The Quincy City Council approved giving $300,000 from its Economic Growth Fund — collected through the city’s one percent food and beverage tax — to the turf project at its Sept. 5, 2023, meeting. The Quincy Area Convention and Visitors Bureau gave $10,000, and $156,091 of funding came from the Park District’s recreation reserves.

Philpot asked Greg Fletcher, 1^st Ward alderman, to share with the commissioners about the city’s financial commitment and the city’s understanding of that commitment.

“Probably the biggest thing that made us (vote for giving the money) was that (the fields) would be used for the benefit of all Quincy people,” Fletcher said. “We probably would not get too interested in doing things for for-profit organizations. Our goal would have been to take care of the residents of this city, that they would have a beautiful, safe place to play ball.”

“It’s important that we reiterate the district remains committed to your success,” Philpot said. “Your success equals our success. We’re a collective attendance. If it’s a matter of finding funding sources to help make those changes that you’re suggesting, like the sloping and changing the fences … hell, I’ll help you. But asking our neighbors to foot the bill, that is a difficult ask.”

Commissioners Dave Hogge and David Grimm also said they didn’t think the Park District had the money to complete the improvements Dodd was asking for.

“We’ll help you. We’ll more than do it,” Hogge said. “But to keep going back into the pot, to keep spending money, I don’t know if this board’s got the stomach for it.”

Dodd debated Fletcher’s comment.

“The food and beverage tax money was supposed to be to bring for tourism, right?” he asked. “The tournaments that I’m bringing in are bringing in tourism to Quincy. In my understanding, the way it was pitched and sold to the city was that money, that investment, would help bring tournaments and more people into Quincy. We’re going to leave (the dimensions) as a T-ball field? I don’t think that’s what (the city was) buying into.”

“I recognize that your interpretation of what the city gave that money for,” Philpot said. “But Mr. Fletcher’s rebuttal is inconsistent with that.”

However, Chuck Bevelheimer, former director of planning and development for the city, wrote a memo to aldermen before their vote on Sept. 5, 2023, “The administration believes investing $300,000 from the food and beverage tax in this project is appropriate use, given the potential economic impact from tourism on the community.”

“This is something that not only helps increase the tourism that comes in to give us more heads in beds, but it’s also something that when they don’t have the tournaments, our local families are going to be able to use those fields,” Quincy Mayor Mike Troup told Muddy River News after that Sept. 5, 2023, meeting.

“I don’t think (the city) would be real thrilled about giving that money for a glorified T-ball field,” Dodd said.

“I think (the city) might have some concerns about providing it for a for-profit entity as well,” Philpot replied.

Hogge suggested the creation of a nonprofit citizen group like Friends of the Castle (which promotes and preserves the city’s history and cultural heritage), Friends of the Trails (which encourages the development of multi-use bike and walking trails in Quincy) and Friends of the Lorenzo Bull House (which protects, preserves and promotes the Lorenzo Bull House and grounds).

“Let’s have Friends of the Diamonds and get a group that comes out there,” Hogge said. “We will accept all the free work we can get. If (volunteers) want to bring their equipment, time, talent and treasure and do it, then by all means, they can help do it — but we have a finite amount of finances.”

Asked after the meeting what he thought of the proposal to create a nonprofit group, Dodd was uninterested.

“(The Park Board) made commitments to do these things, and now they’re backing off,” he said. “Now they’re saying there’s no money.

“I think Rome needs to come off his high horse and talk to me. If Mark Philpot says to me, ‘If you succeed, we succeed,’ then why haven’t you asked me, ‘How can we help you?’  In six years, nobody’s ever said, ‘What can we do?’ I’m out here every weekend. I see what’s going on. I see the safety issues. I hear what people comment.”

Philpot was asked after the meeting if the Park District was finished spending money on the two fields.

“Absolutely not,” he said. “We are bound to operate within our budget, although we are committed to supporting Qtown, just like we’re committed to supporting Avenue of Lights, the Gem City Concert Series and all of our other affiliates.  When the needs exceed the budget, the district is committed to being a leading proponent in advocating for alternative funding sources. Whether it’s letters of support or lobbying, we’re about the business of prompting success. When affiliates win, everyone wins.”