OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — An Osceola youth softball league's days could be numbered following a resolution by county commissioners.
The league president, David Allen, said he will have to raise registration fees to keep the league running, which is something he knows families will not be able to afford.
"This league takes everybody; It doesn't matter if you have ever played or you are great," said Allen.
Allen has been involved with the girls' softball league at Oren Brown Community Park for the past eight years, and since then, he said the nonprofit league has never paid Osceola County to use their fields. The County commissioners passed a resolution in May, requiring a fee to use the parks.
"The fees will go to $50 an hour for a non-lit field and $65 per hour for a field that is lit," Allen.
Families have always been charged between $70 to $75 a player to cover uniforms, umpires and trophies. Allen said to make up for the costs, they will have to raise that rate to a $300 registration fee per season.
Allen said to use a field, it will now cost them $130 a day during the week for practice, and on game days, the price goes up.
On Saturdays, it will run them close to $1,200, and those are fees that families will have to pick up the cost for, but just can't afford.
"Is there a chance that this league could be done with because of these fees?" asked WFTV reporter Roy Ramos.
"Oh, absolutely," said Allen.
County officials said the fee was always in place but never enforced as a consideration to the league.
Allen hopes county commissioners will consider the families this time around.
"We need to keep this league active," said Allen.
County commissioners will meet Monday to discuss alternatives for the league.
WFTV
