Oregon City has demanded that volunteer nonprofit youth and senior citizen team sports pay a fee to the city for use of park space that has historically been free.  This demand by Oregon CIty will dramatically (from 50% to 100% increase) raise the cost of participation for families through cost shifting onto youth baseball, soccer, and senior pickleball.   In each sport, volunteers have maintained, fund raised, got grants to build and maintain multiple sports venues open to all citizens in neighborhood parks.

Each community based sports organization routinely donates in excess of 1,000’s of hours of volunteer time every year.  Each organization is non profit and provides a team sport event for all families who can afford to register.

Forcing up registration costs will deny participation opportunities to low income and fixed income families.

None of the monies raised will be dedicated to field or sports court upkeep.

If the City of Oregon CIty succeeds in forcing these cost shifts onto our families the entire community will experience reduced community cohesion, and the parks will become less safe.  Reduced participation by the City’s youth will result in lower academic performance and the loss of important social skill development opportunities.  Reduced physical activity for seniors not only leads to increased social isolation but also will increase costs for all community health insurers including Medicare.

If you live or shop in Oregon CIty please sign this petition requesting that the CIty of Oregon City not force these non profit community based, volunteer driven organizations to raise their enrollment fees.