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Palm River Little League team can stay in its park
By
Jessica Vander Velde, Times Staff Writer
In print: Friday, April 25, 2008
PALM RIVER — The county is scaling back Progress Village's multimillion-dollar sports complex after agreeing to let the Palm River Little League team continue playing at its park. County officials said last week that Southeast Little League can remain at Rubin Padgett Park, a switch from plans earlier this year. County officials' plans to move the Palm River team to the 120-acre sports complex surfaced in January, and Southeast Little League board members argued against the change. They said the children wouldn't be able to find transportation to the complex, which is about 75 blocks away. Most team members walk or bike to practice because working parents can't drive them, board members said. Some opponents spoke at a community meeting in late January, and county officials listened. A few weeks later, a county parks representative attended a Southeast Little League board meeting and said they could possibly keep their park. Now, plans for Progress Village's sports complex are being revised. There will be three baseball fields instead of seven. It will serve the local teams: the Progress Village Panthers football team and Progress Village Little League. The project will cost less now, parks spokesman John Brill said. Officials aren't sure how they'll use the leftover money from the complex, which originally had a $7-million price tag, he said. It could be used for a community center in Progress Village or it could pay for upgrades at Rubin Padgett Park. Southeast Little League's board members would like the money to go toward new sod for their fields, fences and a riding lawn mower, league president Marvina Nowell said. She's happy the team will stay, and she's pleased the county listened. "We never wanted to stop the construction of the sports complex," she said. "We just wanted to keep our park in our area."
In memorial Longtime Little League volunteer Harold Garella died April 8 at his Tampa home. He was 85 years old. Garella volunteered for more than 40 years, working as an umpire and the assistant district administrator for District 13, said Cal Libel, district director. Garella had also served on Southeast Little League's board. A memorial service will be held at noon Monday at Rubin Padgett Park. It is open to the public.
[Last modified: Apr 24, 2008 04:33 AM]
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