Finally - the Monroe County School Board has the Founders Park baseball field on their Tuesday Agenda, June 23, at Coral Shores, 3 PM meeting.
And we expect it on the Village agenda in July.
Let’s review:
Cost of Construction: The entire estimated $6 million cost of the upgrades are to be paid by the School District.
Location: On Village owned Park property leased to School District for $10/year.
Debate: Who should have the right to provide final approval of critical improvements – the owner of the property, the entity paying for upgrades or both?
Who will use the field during the offseason? What limitations will be required to protect the condition of the field’s surface?
When fighting for artificial turf, the argument to Village residents was that this new surface would provide an opportunity for multi-uses. Other school uses were outlined.
Owners’ Version of Lease (called the License and Use Agreement): January 2026 the Islamorada Council approved, 5-0, a License and Use agreement spelling out responsibilities for both the Village, as owner of the field, and the School District, who leases it for $10/year for use as high school baseball field (Jan – May season).
Tenants’ Version of Lease: On Tuesday the School District attorneys are presenting their own version of an agreement to the School Board – as the tenants. It’s quite confusing to figure out what they don’t like about the Village agreement.
Design Build Contract: Over a year ago, February 2025, the School Board selected Keystar, Inc, a Key West firm, to design and build $6 million baseball field upgrades at Founders Park.
The Village is listed as a party to the contract but has not signed on the signature page, yet Keystar has been working on the design for over a year.
Design Features: The design features have been debated. But any changes the Village suggests come with a hefty cost to the Village… as change orders.
Deadlines: The deadline for completion of the project in time for the 2027 baseball season has passed.
Reduced Project Design: In order to have a ball field for the 2027 season, the School District staff and Village staff have been negotiating behind the scenes to split the project so that artificial turf can be installed now, delaying the other improvements.
Public: While Founders Park is a community park, the public has not been included in deals being made.
Compared to other School Fields: This is a high school baseball field, the only one in the county not on school property. And just like at the ballfields they do own, the School District is going to be paying 100% of the cost to upgrade the leased field at Founders.
What about maintenance and replacement: There is an agreement in the School Board agenda on Tuesday, “renegotiated by School and Village staff.” It suggests the Village taxpayers must share some costs of repairs, replacement and maintenance with the School District.
Do taxpayers in Marathon and Key West share maintenance and replacement costs with the School District at their local school athletic fields?
Extraordinary Costs: The School Board members have stated they are policy makers and do not get involved in the dollars and cents – leaving details up to staff. Isn’t that a dangerous approach to governance? The costs suggested by Keystar for providing just the artificial turf and some fencing appear to be extreme.
The lifespan of the field surface is 8 – 10 years (maybe less with our weather conditions). It appears the School District thinks the Village should be responsible for paying a portion of replacement costs if the field is damaged by hurricane, or just worn out from use in the future. Why? The Village is providing very costly land for just $10/year. Isn’t that enough?
ADA: The School District has allowed non-ADA compliant facilities to exist for nearly 25 years at the Founders Park baseball field – including the portable bleachers with no stairs and no railings.
What will elected officials decide?
Village Council: We feel confident that the Village Council does not want major changes to their January agreement that would negatively impact Islamorada taxpayers.
We believe they will stick to the basics approved last January as promised.
School Board: We don’t understand why the School Board won’t even meet with the Village Council.
Why wouldn’t the Coral Shores baseball team get the same quality facilities provided for the other teams in Monroe County… at total School District expense?
Come on… the kids want to play ball and we all want a safe, well-maintained field for them. It should not be this difficult.
