Page 34 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch October 18, 2013 OCPark Eyed For More Tourneys By JOANNE SHRINER STAFF WRITER OCEAN CITY – This week’s Recreation and Parks Commission meeting began with a proposed schedule to expand Northside Park’s ability to host baseball and softball tournaments starting in 2014 followed by discussions regarding a conflict with Springfest’s date in 2015, issues arising with the corvette parade on the Boardwalk and Springfest and Sunfest vendors requesting to close earlier. Tourney Schedule Proposed Weekly MVP Recognized The Bank of Ocean City is again sponsoring the Stephen Decatur High School football team and presenting awards to the top performers from the weekly games. Above left, this week’s MVP, Chase Sams, is pictured with Head Coach Bob Knox and Bank of Ocean City’s Earl Conley. Submitted Photo Rob “Moose” Holland, vice president of Atlantic Coast, which works in partnership with the United States Specialty Sports Alliance (USSSA), came before the Recreation and Parks Commission on Tuesday afternoon to propose a schedule of base- ball and fast pitch tournaments to be held at Northside Park in 2014. The proposed schedule hits several weekend dates a month from April through September. Holland came to the Recreation and Parks Commission suggesting if he were to purchase temporary fencing and pitching mounds that are capable of being installed and removed on a case-by-case basis it would expand Northside Park’s ability to host baseball and softball tournaments if the Town of Ocean City were to approve. Recently Wicomico County partnered with Ocean City to host the USSSA Girls World Series held this past July, which filled 13,000 hotel rooms and although the event cost Wicomico County $100,000 to acquire, it created an economic impact of about $9 million overall. Recreation and Parks Director Tom Shuster recognized the current demand for facilities to host sports tournaments and Ocean City is currently working to position the resort within sports marketing to attract additional events. “If we allow him to use the fields with the temporary fencing and the mounds it would work … we could better align ourselves to use these weekends to the fullest,” Shuster said. Upon the town’s approval of the proposed baseball and softball tournament schedule, Holland is hoping to meet with the Tourism Advisory Board (TAB) to seek financial assistance in promoting the baseball and softball tournaments in Ocean City. The town allocates TAB $300,000 a year to promote new events in Ocean City. The Recreation and Parks Commission was in consensus to have Moose present the schedule to the full Mayor and Council, which will decide if he will then be passed on to TAB to further promote the events. Springfest Date Concern The 2015 Town Sponsored Special Events Schedule was presented to the commission. Staff and partnering tourism organizations had reviewed the proposed schedule, and Shuster relayed concerns over Springfest weekend, May 7-10, 2015, falling on the same weekend as Mother’s Day. Recreation and Parks Assistant Director Susan Petito said there has been some discussion of cross marketing Mother’s Day in Ocean City with Springfest. “It is a great event to bring your mother to on Mother’s Day,” she said. It is Ocean City’s tradition to begin Springfest on the first Thursday in May, and if the festival were to be held the week prior it would fall on April 30. Petito pointed out if Springfest’s dates are modified it could conflict with another neighboring festival and there could be potential to lose vendors. The commission was in consensus to table the approval of the 2015 Special Event Schedule to have staff research other potential Springfest dates and possible conSEE NEXT PAGE