This is a call to action for every recreational sports lover, your family, and friends. What happens on the field is so much more than a game, It’s community connection and the joy of playing the sport we love. 
Right now, that is actively being taken from us. We cannot allow a few individuals in the permit office to go unchallenged unchecked and effectively stop individual from playing and or having to move to another organization, the permit office gave your permits to for no good reason. We cannot stand by and let it happen. Sign the petition. We need the City Council to get involved and investigate. 

For over 150 years, baseball and softball have been staples in New York City’s recreational sports. Decades of building friendships, skills, and memories that stretch far beyond the field. But recent changes imposed by the Parks Department are taking that away from many. Oval-shaped fields the hubs for baseball and softball have been reclassified on paper, drastically cutting down playtime. For many, baseball and softball fields are where they learned the game and other valuable lessons that helped shape who we are. A place where some of us spend quality time with our kids, teaching them how to play the game and other life lessons.

Right now, the Parks Department’s decisions are leaving us with fewer places to play. Fields are disappearing, and leagues are being forced to shutdown and others having to turn players away. 
We are being removed from fields we’ve used for decades, fields designed and built for our sport. 

The process has been anything but transparent. There’s been no real, open dialogue with targeted leagues, no clear reason for the reclassification, and little thought given to the people most affected—the players who rely on this time and fields for mental and physical health. 

The leaders of the recreational sports community should continue to have a seat at the table where discussions are taking place, especially ones that affect them directly. We should be able to continue suggesting and contributing our ideas that have helped shape the growth of recreational sports in our communities that will continue into the future, in a fare, transparent manner. 

To address this, we propose three straightforward solutions:

1.Return To The Fair Allocation of Fields. Fields built specifically for one type of sport shouldn’t be reclassified on paper and reassigned for other sports that compromise their purpose and quality. 

2. Preserve Our Fields. Baseball and softball fields are unique spaces. Using them for sports they weren’t designed for, causes unnecessary wear and tear that leads to the damage that shortens the life cycle of these fields and end up with costly repairs or higher replacement cost and fields closers that keep players without a place to play sometimes for close to two years. 
3. Oversight. We need a broader City Council Parks Oversight Committee that includes advisors from across the recreational sports community. Those who are directly impacted need to be heard. The current park staff should not be afraid to work closer with community leaders in this area. When we worked together in previous years, we came up with great ideas like The Citywide Championships, Mayors Trophy Cup Fundraiser that every league and sports program citywide participated in and raised funds for uniforms and equipment for our youth leagues in need citywide. 
Permit office staff cannot have the ability to stop active play and removes long- standing sports from their fields and replaces them with  sports, not meant to be played on those fields.  
If know the if the recreational space across city were better managed by a transparent parks system it would be fairer and appropriate. We know there is enough room for multiple sports and groups to play on the proper fields. The Parks Department does not care of the impact these decisions are having on our communities, but we do. Time to speak up!

This is the time for all recreational sports players and groups who believe in fare play to come together regardless of what sport you play and support one another. We must unite to protect programs and fields we rely on. We are advocating for fair treatment for all. 

Here’s how you can help: 

• Sign the Petition. Add your name to show that we’re united in demanding fair and equitable access to the fields. Visit uaasports.org and sign today. We will not be ignored!
• Stay Informed. Join our mailing list at advocacy@uaasports.org to stay updated on the progress of this fight. 
The City Council responded acknowledging they are receiving complains and are considering ways to approach this worsing situation.  They need to hear from you, the number of signatures on this  petition will give them more cause to take some action. 

Contact Your City Council Members.

Send an email to the following New York City Council members and let them know that recreational sports are vital to your community and our city, and we won’t stand by while our access is taken away. Reach out to: 
1. Speaker Adriane Adams: adams@council.nyc.gov 
2. Deputy Speaker Dianna Ayala:dayala@council.nyc.gov 
Chairman Parks Committee Shekar 
3. Krishnan: District25@council.nyc.gov 
4. Carlina Rivera: district2@council.nyc.gov 

Please, add your name, make your voice heard, and let’s 

LETS STAY ACTIVE! Playing the sports we enjoy and love!

 

Adolfo Al Morales 
Chairman, UAA

"Teamwork makes the Dream Work”