We are players, parents and supporters of the Signal Mountain Lacrosse league (SML), in Signal Mountain, Tennessee.  SML has 501(c)3 status and is insured through US Lacrosse.  In the spring of 2018, SML had 151 players:  35 boys/13 girls in grades 2nd-5th, 39 boys/20 girls in middle school, and 26 boys/18 girls in high school.

Lacrosse is one of the few sports that does not have dedicated field space for games and practices within our community. As our sport grows, our league is having continual problems with scheduling field space.  The problem is not a lack of fields - the problem is that SML is not given an opportunity by other sports to schedule time on these fields, several of which are very underutilized during SML's regular season.

Within walking distance of the Nolan Elementary and Signal Mountain Middle High School, there are three baseball fields, three fields controlled by Signal Mountain Football, one field controlled by Signal Band Corps, one field controlled by Signal Mountain High School Soccer, and three large open spaces controlled by Signal Mountain Rec Soccer. Last year we budgeted $9,400 for practice and game spaces. We rented portable lights so all our teams could get practices in on the Signal Mountain band field and rented field space from other schools off campus for most home games. Our kids have practiced on softball fields, tennis courts with broken concrete and even in parking lots. Our athletes deserve better.  The SML Board presented these scheduling issues to Hamilton County Parks and Recreation in the spring of 2017.  Since that time, there have been numerous phone calls and emails from Signal Mountain Lacrosse to Hamilton County Parks and Rec (HCPR). To date, minimal steps have been taken by HCPR to make field space equitably available to our players.

WHAT ARE WE ASKING FOR?

1.  That one lighted field at the Shackleford Ridge complex be opened to our players for priority scheduling. When not in use by SML, the field would be open to all other programs.

2.  Access to storage space by SML in the pavilion area at the Shackleford Ridge complex to house equipment/field supplies. SML would line its own fields and help with any maintenance costs incurred.

3.  That HCDR evaluate current usage of the county owned baseball field at the Shackleford Ridge complex. SML's understanding is that only one team uses that field in the spring. This field could create a long-term solution for SML by being re-purposed for year round use by both lacrosse and flag football, which would increase the number of athletes that get to use these facilities.

We are now approaching our 2019 season and are, once again, scrambling to find space for a program that is entering into its tenth year.  We begin practicing in January with games beginning in February. As taxpayers and athletes, we want to see our community spaces utilized to their full potential. We request that our 150 plus lacrosse athletes be given equal opportunity to practice, compete and grow their sport, just as the various other community sports on Signal Mountain.

Thank you in advance for your help in finding a solution to this ongoing community need.