ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. – The hot topic at Monday’s Atlantic Beach City Commission meeting was baseball.
The Atlantic Beach Athletic Association said its baseball teams were asked to cancel practices on Sunday mornings for the local farmer’s market.
The baseball program has about 400 kids and the farmer‘s market supports about 60 small businesses.
The growing popularity presented parking problems, an issue that was resolved by keeping baseball out of Jack Russell Park until 2:30 p.m. on Sundays.
“They’re going to Cooperstown this summer,” one parent said. “They’re going to wear Atlantic Beach on a national stage. They don’t get to practice.”
Dozens of parents and players stepped up to the microphone to share their concerns with city leaders.
Atlantic Beach mayor Curtis Ford said both the market and the kids are a priority for the city.
“I sure do believe we failed to communicate,” Ford said to the packed crowd. “As your mayor, I take responsibility.”
The mayor told News4Jax the plan is a compromise. He said in the next four weeks the farmer‘s market will scale back slightly to open up spots in the parking lot.
The change will allow the baseball program to return to its normal schedule.