BY LARRY HLAVENKA JR.
Staff Writer
HOWELL – The Howell Parks and Recreation Department is making plans to begin a Challenger baseball league for children who have physical and emotional disabilities.
At the Township Council’s June 13 workshop meeting, Helene Schlegel, director of parks and recreation, said many residents have inquired about such a program. She said she believes the Challenger league could eventually include softball and basketball.
She said the Challenger league would “give everyone a chance to play regardless of limitations.”
According to Schlegel, the purpose of the league would be for children to have fun. As such, accommodations in rules would be made and buddies would help the children participate in the games.
Furthermore, Schlegel said, as other towns have done for Howell youths, the Challenger league would permit anyone in the area to join.
“Our goal is to service the children,” she said.
In looking at what must be accomplished in order to start this program, Schlegel said the Challenger league will need fields, uniforms, volunteers and the backing of Howell’s three Little League youth baseball organizations. She said the North Howell Little League has already expressed interest. She is hoping volunteers make themselves known as well. Some funding for the program could be available through grants, she said.
Councilman Robert Walsh, who has an autistic son, beamed with excitement and looked forward to seeing other parents share in the memorable experience as he has.
“My son has participated in other towns,” Walsh said. “He would get ready at 5 a.m. on a Sunday morning and put his uniform on. It was very rewarding.”
In other news regarding the parks and recreation department, the council is preparing to introduce an ordinance that would outline a permit process for residents who wish to use township parks for gatherings.
Schlegel petitioned the council, saying, “recently, [we] have received requests at Oak Glen Park for get-togethers. There is no policy in place, only for organizations, not the public at large.”
She said the gatherings often require the use of rest rooms and may infringe upon fire codes. Schlegel said with an ordinance in place, “[it] will allow Parks and Recreation to monitor use” and remain cognizant of how many people enter the grounds.
For planned gatherings of 10 or more people, event organizers would fill out an application for a permit.
As proposed, Howell residents would be charged a $25 fee and nonresidents would be charged a $50 fee for the use of the park. There would also be a deposit required for a key to the rest rooms. Following the event the rest rooms would be checked and if no damage has been done the deposit would be returned.
Schlegel said the proposed ordinance will not apply to Echo Lake, which is handled by a separate law.
The council supported the permit process after Township Manager Thomas Czerniecki said, “Once we get accustomed to having it and marketing it, it could be wonderful.”
He said residents who hope to rent out amenities such as gazebos would be pleased with the ability to secure exclusive use of the township’s facilities.