BOCA RATON, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2026) — Boca Raton City Council is scheduled to receive an update May 26 on youth softball field assignments, including a planned move that city staff says will give Boca Raton Youth Softball access to four fields in one location for the Fall 2026 season.
According to the city presentation, Recreation Services staff and Briann Harms, executive director of the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District, met with Boca Raton Youth Softball’s president and board on May 13 and again on May 20. At the May 20 meeting, the presentation says, the group agreed Countess de Hoernle Park / Spanish River Athletic Facility was the best option.
Boca Raton Youth Softball announced the move to participants on May 21, according to the presentation prepared for the City Council workshop.
The update comes after meetings with youth softball parents and league officials about field access, amenities and the long-running desire to have games and practices in one location. The city presentation says the goal is to evaluate and reallocate existing field assignments to create a more balanced distribution of sports fields and amenities between baseball and softball user groups.
Those amenities include batting cages, bullpens and concessions.
Parents and league representatives told the city they wanted youth softball to have access to the same types of amenities available to youth baseball, including bullpens and batting cages. They also sought a four-field complex with batting cages, bullpens, storage, dedicated parking and concessions, according to the presentation.
The city said the league also wanted games and practices in one location to help create a stronger sense of community, along with on-site supervision and maintenance staff for rain and field preparation.
The presentation includes several options reviewed by staff. Patch Reef Park had been mentioned as a possible location, but the city said that option would have significant impacts and cause loss of field use for existing groups. Another option was keeping softball at Memorial Park and Meadows Park while waiting for improvements to be phased in.
The option selected in the presentation is moving youth softball to Countess de Hoernle Park / Spanish River Athletic Facility, where field assignments can be rearranged to allow immediate improved access to amenities for the Fall 2026 season.
According to the city, Countess de Hoernle Park / Spanish River Athletic Facility offers four fields in one location, two existing batting cages, park rangers and athletic staff stationed on site, and a maintenance facility for field preparation after rain. The presentation says there will be some shared use Monday through Thursday, with four fields available Friday, Saturday and Sunday for games in a single location and possible tournament use.
The city also said Countess de Hoernle Park / Spanish River Athletic Facility can accommodate youth softball for the foreseeable future while allowing more time to evaluate proposed improvements at Memorial and Meadows parks.
Those potential improvements carry significant cost estimates. The presentation lists $920,000 for lighting across three fields and amenities, $240,000 to $300,000 for three to four batting cages, $40,000 for bleachers, a bleacher pad and awning, $15,000 to $20,000 for three scoreboards with installation, and $25,000 to $75,000 for restroom improvements.
Requested improvements at Memorial and Meadows included renovations to concession, vending and storage buildings; batting cages with lighting at Memorial North, Memorial South and Meadows Park; additional bleachers with awning covers for Memorial South Field; bullpen and lighting improvements; restroom improvements; better field maintenance options; more security; and scoreboards.
The presentation also compares youth softball’s request with youth baseball’s current field use. According to the city, youth baseball teams are scheduled for games and practices at several locations, including Sugar Sand Park, Patch Reef Park, Don Estridge Middle School, Countess de Hoernle Park / Spanish River Athletic Facility and Hillsboro El Rio Park North. Amenities vary by park, and youth baseball does not play or practice at one single location, the presentation says.
As part of the update, Recreation Services has also started reviewing current residency requirements for athletic fields and facilities. The city said that review includes policies used by surrounding cities and counties.
The presentation says the city will focus on working with youth sports providers to make sure residents have priority when registering, especially for high-demand programs and activities. Residency has been a recurring point of discussion, according to the city, and will require consultation and agreement between the city and the Beach and Park District because the athletic field inventory scheduled by the city includes fields owned by both entities.
The City Council workshop update is informational, based on the materials provided. The presentation ends with a questions slide.
Source: City Council Softball Update presentation prepared for the May 26, 2026 Boca Raton City Council workshop.
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