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History: For 20 plus years the local Coral Shores High School baseball team has played ball at the grass field at Founders Park… The only high school in the Keys that doesn’t have a school owned baseball field.
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A new Interlocal Agreement was approved by Village Council, as owner, and School Board, as lessee, and recorded 6/20/2025 agreeing to the use of the Founders Park field for the Coral Shores High School baseball team by the School District, pending specific terms in a license and use agreement for the next 20 years. (Click here )
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No Current License Agreement (lease): The original 20 year agreement between Islamorada and the School District as to use for the high school team and maintenance of the field ended several years ago.
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Condition of Field: Both the Village and School District have described the field as in “poor condition” and in need of upgrades and improved maintenance.
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Transparency: For more than 5 years, there have been ongoing plans to upgrade the facilities, without public and Village Council involvement until about 18 months ago.
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Improvements: The School District would like to make major improvements to the Village owned field at School District cost but want strict assurances the Village won’t evict the Coral Shore team after $millions are spent on improvements.
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Design Features: Ongoing design features ($6.1 million) proposed by School District cannot be completed in time for 2027 baseball season so the School Board has approved a scaled down initial project with new fencing, artificial turf and dugouts ($3.8 million) that could be completed by February 2027 start of season. No 2200 sq ft bldg (with lockers, coaches office etc), no concession stand, restrooms, elevated bleachers and other ADA required features.
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Ongoing Cost: It has been questioned why Islamorada would have to contribute financially to maintain, repair, replace, when the Village is already contributing the very expensive park site at just $10/year to the School Board. No other taxpayers in Monroe County contribute tax money for maintenance of school athletic fields, or provide the land.
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In January 2026 the Village Council approved a license agreement spelling out scheduled use and maintenance and replacement issues.
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In June the School Board approved their own license agreement with the scaled down plan for improvements, sharing of maintenance/replacement with the Village, and penalties if the Village evicts the Coral Shores ball team. It is a 20 year agreement with two automatic 10 year renewal periods.
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Eviction: In case the Village evicts the Coral Shores ball team, the School Board put a reimbursement schedule of payments from Village to School District in the proposed License Agreement to recover value remaining of their $3.8 million cost Click here for reimbursement schedule.
