RIVERTON CITY -- Riverton City leaders voted against a boy’s baseball league Tuesday night, saying their main city park should be for everyone to enjoy.
Plans to renovate the city park approve 4-1. Renovations are expected to be complete in 2015, in time for the city’s 150th anniversary. Ball diamonds were noticeably absent from the approved plan.
Councilman Al Leavitt said it was time for the city to build a park for everybody, not just for baseball players.
"Baseball has had its way in this city for 25 or 30 years," Leavitt said.
Councilman Roy Tingey Agreed. He said the city couldn’t accommodate every sport that wanted park space.
“We just can't service everybody," Tingey said.
Tingey and Leavitt both claimed the $7 million C. R. Hamilton Park had plenty of ball fields for the city’s youth.
Leavitt said it was up to the super league to find its own place to play.
"It isn't the city's responsibility to fund and sponsor those ball fields for that purpose," Leavitt said.
A dozen parents and community members urged council members to postpone the park vote and give residents the opportunity to voice their opinions.
Three or four of angry residents called out to council members as left, saying they were “disgraceful.”
Baseball mom and resident, Teveka Menelson, expressed her frustration with the vote.
"I'm very disappointed they turned it into a super league issue instead of a city of Riverton issue," Menelson said.
Menelson said she collected more than 1,000 signatures on a petition, but not enough to put the park issue on the November ballot.
Alisa Anderson, another baseball mom and Riverton resident, sounded off after the council's decision.
"I'm angry. I'm furious," Anderson said. "I'm furious enough to leave and move."
