The city of Keizer is considering new management for the Keizer Little League Park, located at 5245 Ridge Drive N.E. 

Following a series of meetings in recent months, the Keizer City Council issued a request for proposals for the city-owned park in response to concerns about the park’s current management.

“We have an existing contract with For the Love of the Game,” City Manager Adam Brown said. “It’s in the fourth year of a 10-year contract, and the council is just interested in seeing if there is more to be done with the facility.”

The deadline for organizations to submit proposals is Wednesday, Sept. 3. Councilors then will consider the proposals.

For the Love of the Game was created in 2021 by Jerry Walker, president of the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes baseball team, solely to manage the Little League park. That same year, the nonprofit signed a 10-year contract with the city.

Its role is general field maintenance as well as updating the facility. According to latest financial records, the organization made $109,000 in revenue in 2023 and had expenses of $92,525. Shannon Moore, president of Keizer Little League, raised concerns with the organization’s management in a city council meeting on Aug. 4.

While Brown said the organization met contractual agreements, Moore highlighted unmet contractual duties during her statement to councilors “such as the field lining and raking, timely communication with the public, and general field maintenance.”

Brown said he started hearing about these concerns last year. Keizer Little League and McNary Youth Baseball, the main users of the facility, met with Brown in July about improving the field quality.

He said that both leagues would like to see updates to the facility. Currently, there is a flooding problem that they hope to see resolved.

“There are some places where the storm drains are clogged up, creating water pools in certain areas,” Brown said. “If we could fix the water out there, that would make the facility a lot more attractive.”

He also said the city and leagues want paved pathways and updated concession stands.

“We were approached and asked about whether we would help them potentially transition to new management if they were able to put out a bid and get something that was going to be advantageous for the city,” said Mickey Walker, manager of For the Love of the Game.

Walker expressed confusion when asked about why the city is seeking new managers.

“I really don’t know,” he said. “Especially with the recommendation coming from the local youth leagues…that they don’t want that. That they’d just rather not put out an RFP and work with us.”

Moore told councilors that Little League opposes changing management.

“Keizer Little League believes that issuing a new RFP at this time could be more harmful than helpful,” she said. “Beyond the concern that no viable management might step forward, we’re also concerned that a new operator, particularly one unfamiliar with our community, could reduce field availability to our two local youth programs, or significantly increase costs.”

Councilors addressed the pros and cons of both options – sending out the request versus keeping the current management  – later in the meeting.

“If we put it out for RFP, and we don’t receive a successful suitor for that, then we’re not throwing the baby out with the bathwater,” Councilor Dan Kohler said.

“I’d agree with that,” Brown responded. “Even if we did the RFP and didn’t get any response, we would still have that sit-down with For the Love of the Game, and go over the items that Mrs. Moore talked about.”

Mayor Cathy Clark noted the workload that responding to the request would entail.

“If it’s just to get information from organizations, I’d be hesitant to put everybody through that exercise,” she said.

Councilor Kyle Juran suggested changing the current contract. Brown said changes wouldn’t prove necessary.

“What we would be enforcing is just the contract language as written. I don’t doubt that there would be a willingness for Love of the Game to make things right,” he said.

Moore raised concerns about damaging the city’s existing relationship with For the Love of the Game by seeking new management.

When asked about the council’s decision, Walker expressed no animosity toward the council.

“Even though we have six years left on the contract and a two-year continuation clause…we’d be totally willing to figure out the best way to move forward should that come to pass,” Walker said.

Moore’s main concern with new management is cost.

“The current board for Keizer Little League has a working relationship with For the Love of the Game, where we are able to run the league as best we can and still manage the cost,” she noted.

Yet, she still respects the city’s decision. Her main desire, she said, is maintaining a collaborative relationship between the leagues and the park’s manager.

“Our goal is and always will be to grow the games of softball and baseball in Keizer and keep it accessible to any kid that wants to play,” she noted.

Brown said that he’s received “some interest” from the organization in response to the issued request. The council will publicly evaluate the results “as early as the first meeting of October,” Brown said, scheduled for Monday, Oct. 6.

“If there is going to be a transition, we would like to see it happen between the fall and spring season,” he said.

News tip? Contact reporter Riley Ellis: [email protected].

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