Moving soccer fields to replace softball fields at Ybor Alvarez just doesn’t work!

Fernandina’s City Commission with input from a volunteer Airport Advisory Commission have proposed to have more airplane hangars built on land at the Ybor Alvarez Sports Complex. Their plan requires moving all Soccer fields to where the adult Softball/Baseball fields are now located. It would be an arduous discussion to try to reach agreement on whether more airplane hangars are needed, whether Softball fields should be eliminated, or whether all the space should be allocated to Soccer fields. So, let’s forgo those debates. Because, the Soccer fields do not fit on the footprint where the current Softball/Baseball fields are located. It surprises me that in all the articles and discussions on this topic, this notable fact has not been raised.

Another fact is that adult Softball/Baseball games can only be played on Amelia Island at the Ybor Alvarez fields. This is because all other fields on the Island were designed for youth. None of these other fields have the 300 ft left field, 350 ft center field, and 300 ft right field dimensions that an adult Softball/Baseball field requires – only Ybor Alvarez has these dimensions.

The Island’s population provides guidance as to what sports facilities are needed. 81% of Amelia Island’s population are adults 25 years and older (25-64 yrs is 48%; 65 yrs+ is 33%) and a contrasting 15% of the population is under 17 years (latest census data). There is a robust Youth Soccer presence who play at Ybor Alvarez. And, Men’s Senior Softball on Amelia Island has grown over the past 3 years and continues to add players. The current Sports Complex at Ybor Alvarez is meeting the athletic needs of both young, and not so young, Island residents.

How Ybor Alvarez Fields measure up? I walked and measured the dimensions of all the Soccer fields and did the same for all the Softball/Baseball fields at the complex. Here are those numbers:

Total square feet of the Soccer fields = 703,004 square feet

Total square feet of the Softball/Baseball fields = 460,000 square feet

If the City’s plan is to move the Soccer fields onto all the Softball/Baseball fields, the reduction in Soccer fields would be 35%; the Soccer fields are larger than the Softball fields by 243,004 square feet. This move would result in 100% loss of adult Softball/Baseball fields and there would therefore be no field available for playing adult Softball/Baseball anywhere on the Island.

These facts challenge the planners with an opportunity to come up with a better plan, and cease trying to push this plan through, or study it further. Lastly, the planners should reflect on the message of the inscription on a bronze plaque placed on the facilities building at the Ybor fields:

“This recreation complex is dedicated as a testimonial of deep appreciation to Ybor Alvarez who has dedicated a lifetime to developing a successful baseball/softball program in Nassau County."

April 20,1985.

Signed - Mayor Ben Sorensen, Vice Mayor Charles Albert, Jr., Commissioner Ronnie Sapp, Commissioner Joseph S. Lee, Commissioner Beano Roberts, City Manager Ferris B. Jones.

City of Fernandina Beach, Florida.

The City of Fernandina needs and deserves a better plan than what is currently proposed.

Dr. Howard Fishbein

Amelia Island Resident

Dr. Fishbein is a retired Chronic Disease Epidemiologist. His research focused on the “Prevention and Control of Obesity in Children.” He played High School soccer, coached a “Girls Youth Soccer League,” and is the Manage/Player of the “Men’s Senior Softball League” on Amelia, in its 3rd year.