Residents press board after Babe Ruth season stalls; parks staff propose local alternatives

A resident at the Logansport Parks and Recreation meeting urged the board to investigate the apparent collapse of the local Babe Ruth youth baseball program and pleaded with officials to "keep the door open" so the program can return in future years.

The visitor said Babe Ruth had been a longtime part of Loganport and expressed frustration that organizers had not followed up with parks staff. "We will have Babe Ruth. We're working on this," the transcript records an outside announcement attributed to the organization, but board members said they had received no direct, sustained communication from program leadership (Chris Shank was named as a contact who had not been responsive).

Board members and staff described the program’s disorganization this season and emphasized that operating the league is not the parks department’s responsibility. Dave Smith, who has been organizing alternative field use, described contingency plans including opening the field for Sandlot baseball on Wednesday nights, a wood-bat league for 18-and-under on Monday nights and an adult league beginning in September. The board voted to authorize switching locks and transferring utilities for the field to parks control so staff and volunteers can manage interim uses.

Several board members stressed that the department will keep lines of communication open and explore contacts who might rebuild the formal Babe Ruth structure before next season. "We don't want to let this just fall to the wayside," a visitor said; board members agreed to monitor interest and suggested outreach in the fall to try to reconstitute the program.

The board did not adopt a formal takeover of the league and said any permanent action will depend on future contacts and volunteer capacity.