Vote on Major League Baseball Youth Foundation delayed one week

Discussions surrounding the proposed agreement between the City of Birmingham and the Major League Baseball Youth Foundation dominated the bulk of Tuesday’s meeting.

An agreement that would allow the MLBYF to construct and operate a youth baseball academy at George Ward Park was delayed one week, however, the Council debated whether there are other options for the new youth academy. A resolution of support was passed following several amendments, encouraging the Birmingham Parks and Recreation Board to consider alternative locations including Banks Middle School, Cooper Green Park, East Lake Park and other viable locations.

There has been some public concern over the MLBYF building a facility in George Ward Park. Councilors addressed some of the concerns during the discussion, including what will happen to the softball leagues that have called the park home for decades.

By delaying the item a week, the Council hopes to get more information to the public about the proposed plans for George Ward and also allow for additional locations to be considered.

Councilor Clinton Woods expressed a sense of trepidation in passing a resolution that could be perceived as Birmingham not wanting the MLBYF, a sentiment that was echoed by most of the Council.

“I had the opportunity to speak to the MLB representatives. We have a chance to bring significant opportunity to Birmingham but we’re in danger of jeopardizing it,” Woods said. “I’ve personally called some of the people that have been concerned. There is a lot of misinformation out there. What I don’t want to do is create a thing where they’re brining in $10 million to invest in our youth and we’re running them around in circles. There are concrete issues that people have pushed back on them. For instance, disk golf isn’t going away and once they realized that, they weren’t concerned anymore.”

Council President Pro Tem William Parker said that he will continue to meet with and address concerns of citizens who live in Birmingham. “This next week I’m going to make myself available. I’m available to meet,” Parker said. “Compromise is not a bad thing. We’re closer to finding common ground than what’s being reported. There is a plan in place to accommodate the groups who might be displaced.”

Among those groups that could be displaced are several softball leagues that utilize the park for tournaments. Council President Abbott, who represents the district where George Ward Park is located, said she has heard from constituents who are opposed to privatizing a portion of the park.

“George Ward is in my district, and the Neighborhood Association voted against it. Yes we’re all in favor of doing things for our children. No one has said anything negative about MLB or their academy. The problem, and their main concern as I understand it, is that the park is already fully utilized,” Abbott said. “We have 116 parks in Birmingham, in districts that could use the investments. We’d be kicking out people who use this park and say they can find somewhere else to go.”

Mayor Randall Woodfin urged the Council and concerned citizens to think about the ways in which their opposition might be perceived. “There are folks that have legitimate concerns. Maybe more information could have been shared before the wrong information got out there. But when I look at the people with pitchforks, I’m seeing language like ‘my park’ or ‘our park.’ There was a time in our history that people of color couldn’t share the parks,” Woodfin said. “It’s insensitive to say ‘put it over there.’ I support you all taking a week and I 100 percent support the MLB coming to invest in Birmingham’s children.”