East Cobb News

Some parents in the Sandy Plains Softball organization have been going public with concerns that a proposed redevelopment of Shaw Park would reduce the number of softball fields there.

One of the group’s officers has unleashed a letter-writing campaign to Cobb commissioners and had scheduled a media interview for Friday that was eventually postponed.

That’s after Cobb commissioner JoAnn Birrell arranged for a meeting with the softball parents and Cobb PARKS officials over what she called a “miscommunication.”

At a February community meeting designed to garner public feedback, citizens were shown a proposed redesign of the park that would have 19 pickleball courts; there are currently nine there now.

Sandy Plains Softball has paid to use the softball fields at Shaw Park for many years and more than 400 girls play softball there (the organization also plays games at Sandy Plains Park, near Lassiter High School).

Shaw Park has become a pickleball hub in recent years, as the fast-growing sport has gained a foothold among active adults, and a number of tournaments have been played there.

One of the proposed options would relocate the softball fields to make room for the pickleball courts.

In an open letter to the Sandy Plains Softball community, Katy Thurow, the organization’s secretary, said the county, and specifically Birrell, have gone back on their word that softball would not be affected by plans to revitalize Shaw Park.

Thurow asked Sandy Plains Softball parents to lobby the commissioners to keep all of the current fields, and suggested political considerations are involved.

Birrell is a four-term Republican who is up for re-election this year, and she has primary opposition.

“The plans shown at the SPLOST meeting show 19 new pickleball courts,” Thurow wrote. “Please keep in mind, there is no pickleball association, no contract with the county, and no pickleball leagues are being asked to justify their need for these 19 new courts.”

Her letter suggested that the softball fields would be cut to three; proposals include adding softball batting cages as well as the construction of a new playground, including inclusive space for special-needs children.

“This is not about money, but about certain members of the Cobb County government pandering to older voters who love pickleball,” Thurow wrote. “Our girls just happen to be collateral damage.

“This is about more than just a game. This is about how youth sports impacts the lives of young female athletes. ”

Thurow said “Sandy Plains Softball saved my child” with a learning disability. “Softball gave my daughter a safe space to feel strong, capable, and build relationships that had nothing to do with school.

“I’ve heard countless stories similar to my family’s, and capping registration [what she suggested would happen if the fields are reduced] means denying this opportunity to young women in our community.”

Speaking to East Cobb News on Thursday, Birrell said there are no plans to reduce the number of softball fields at Shaw Park. She said the Sandy Plains Softball contract for Shaw Park calls for the use of four fields, and that will not change.

“The fields are all spread out,” and one of the proposals would be to group them closer together. “We are relocating the fields,” not reducing them, she added.

Birrell said that some are “trying to make it sound like we don’t care about girls softball. I’m a girl. I care.”

She said what’s being proposed is only that, and “not the final plan. There’s still some work to do, but we’re not cutting back on any fields. We’re relocating them.”

At a 2023 community meeting to discuss the future of Shaw Park, softball players and parents pleaded with the county not to reduce their fields. Pickleball enthusiasts and county leaders said that would not happen.

Similar concerns about the revised Shaw Park plans were posted this week on the Sandy Plains Softball Facebook page.

The commenters include Chris Wasserman, who is challenging Birrell the May 19 Republican primary.

“While I personally enjoy pickleball, I strongly oppose the proposal to replace a girls’ softball field to accommodate additional courts,” he said.

“A significant source of public frustration stems from the perceived lack of clear and transparent dialogue surrounding this decision. The community’s feeling of being misled is entirely understandable and justified.”

On Thursday afternoon, Birrell sent a message to softball parents apologizing for the “miscommunication” and said that after the meeting with the county, “we will provide additional information and clarification to the community.”