Board encourages park district to pursue lease of Ben Fickland Field to youth sports group

The San Angelo Parks & Recreation Board encouraged the park district to pursue a lease for Ben Fickland Field to a small youth-sports organization under general terms discussed in a staff briefing.

Staff said the field—off South Bryant—has been underutilized since the local Little League disbanded. The city previously leased the property for roughly $500 per year; staff and members suggested a similar figure would be fair if the lessee agrees to full maintenance and any improvements. “If they want to do any improvements like add irrigation, they need to work through the city and parks to do that,” a staff presenter said.

Board members discussed allowing the lessee to sublease the field to support tournaments and practices, noting that subleasing could help the group cover maintenance costs. Members supported seeking a two-to-three-year lease with clear maintenance and termination terms if the group fails to maintain the field.

The board moved to encourage the park district to pursue a lease under the general terms outlined and asked staff to obtain a formal proposal and confirm sublease language and maintenance standards before returning with a recommended agreement.

Staff emphasized that the lease should allow the city to terminate if maintenance obligations are not met and that any irrigation or structural improvements would require park-district approval.