Cobb PARKS (Cobb County's Parks and Recreation Department) notified East Marietta National Little League on December 9, 2024 that the county will be "stripping the infield grass on Fields 1-3 at Sewell Park".  The reason given for this action is to "improve the overall condition and playability of the fields".

Since 1959, Sewell Park has been the home of East Marietta National Little League, East Cobb's home for Little League baseball.  East Marietta is the primary user of the fields at Sewell Park and the host for annual spring and fall baseball seasons for over 300 youth in Cobb County.

The Board of Directors at East Marietta opposes this unilateral decision by Cobb PARKS.  We disagree that the proposed actions will improve the fields.  We disagree with the approach Cobb PARKS took in making the decision without consulting or involving the league.

Infield grass is integral to the baseball experience.  It is a key part of the traditional baseball field design and helps promote safety and learning for those players that step onto the field of play.

Traditional Design - How many major league, minor league, college, or high school baseball fields do you know that do not have infield grass?  Outside of those few who have converted to turf, a small number of baseball fields do not have infield grass.  Why?  It’s because that’s how a baseball field is designed - an enclosed space with 4 bases, dirt basepaths, a dirt pitching mound, and grass on the infield and outfield surfaces.

Safety and Learning - Grass on the infield naturally slows down a batted baseball.  The taller the grass, the more the baseball will slow down.  No grass on an infield means baseballs traveling at a high velocity coming towards players as young as age 7, who are trying to field the ball.  Grass slows the ball down and helps remove the barrier of fear from kids who are learning the fundamentals of the game. 

It is likely that Cobb PARKS wants to remove the infield grass at Sewell Park to make it easier to maintain the fields.  Cobb PARKS plans to start activities "this winter".

Sometimes the right thing is not the easy thing.  The right thing is to support East Marietta in persuading Cobb PARKS to cancel the removal of the infield grass at Sewell Park fields.  The right thing is to support the youth of our community.  The right thing is to promote the traditions of baseball.

Help East Marietta and the youth of our community by signing this petition to keep the infield grass at Sewell Park in Marietta, GA.

Thank you,

Alan Wrenn

President, East Marietta National Little League