Park use agreements ensure that groups cover costs, have insurance

The Saukville Village Board approved  agreements Tuesday with three groups for the use of village parks, formalizing some arrangements which have been going on for years.

The agreements follow through on the promise of village officials to standardize agreements and charges for the use of public facilities and to put those terms down in writing.

“We’re just doing business as usual and accounting for our costs,” Public Works Director Roy Wilhelm told the Public Works Committee in explaining the agreements.

One of the pacts is with the Saukville Saints baseball team, which charges the team an annual fee of $500 for the use of the hardball diamond in Grady Park. The team has played Land of Lakes games at the park for decades.

In exchange for the payment, the village will mow the fields, prepare and line the diamond, and provide the bases and Quick Dry drying agent.
The team is responsible for cleaning up after practices and games, and for providing $1 million in liability insurance.

An agreement with the Ozaukee Christian Men’s Softball League assesses a $200 fee for the use of the baseball field in Peninsula Park on Monday nights from May through August.

The final agreement allows the junior varsity baseball team from Port Washington High School to use the Grady Park diamond at no charge during the current season.

Under the agreement, the Port Washington-Saukville School District agrees to reimburse the village for any damage deemed to be beyond normal wear and tear.

Future agreements are anticipated with other groups that use village parks, like the Port Soccer Club and Port Youth Baseball, according to
Village Administrator Dawn Wagner.

“Both clubs have a lot of kids who live in Saukville and having them be able to play in the village turns out really nice,” Wagner said.