The Norwalk Little League team says its field, the Broad River Fields, is not fit to play sports on - and it wants the Parks and Recreation Department to better maintain it.

Norwalk Little League parent-volunteer Drew Todd says in the past decade of coaching the team, this is the worst he has seen the field.

He says he understands the pandemic has impacted everyday life, but that a little care on the field would go a long way.

"In all my years this happens to be, this is the worst I've actually seen it," Todd says. "We have weeds growing out of the infield, which definitely should not be happening."

The Parks and Recreation Department says COVID -19 has delayed ballfield maintenance. The work that would have started in March began in June.

Broad River Fields is one of 30 ballparks on rotation that the Parks and Recreation Department is maintaining. Department Director Nick Roberts says they will be out at the field weekly to ensure it's in good playing condition for the team.

"With us not really knowing whether or not we're gonna play games this year, it's been a slow process," Roberts explains. "So we are a little bit late, a little behind the curve, but we are taking the necessary steps to address the concerns."

Roberts says they operated at a 50% staff reduction from March until May, with much of attention going to the heavily frequented parks.

"We were so inundated with the amount of people and usage of our park system under this whole COVID exercise, we've had to move our resources," Roberts says.

In phase two of the COVID recovery plan for the state, Little League teams were allowed to practice starting on June 27. As of Monday, they are allowed to play games with safety precautions still in place on the field.

 
Read the full statement from Parks & Recreation Director Nick Roberts below.