Report Prepared by: Christopher Jensen, Director, Parks & Community Services
Title
SUBJECT: Community Donation Request - Cricket Pitch Installation at Dwight Amy Park
REPORT IN BRIEF
At the September 28, 2026 Recreation and Parks Commission meeting, staff introduced a community request to donate a cricket pitch at Dwight Amy Park. The Commission voted to add the item to the October 2026 agenda for formal discussion and action.
RECOMMENDATION
Commission- Adopt a motion:
A. Decline the donation as proposed for installation at Dwight Amy Park, based on the park's neighborhood classification, the conflict with existing amenities and the absence of supporting infrastructure (restrooms, parking) required for organized competitive sports; and,
B. Recommend staff to engage the community member to explore alternative park venues - specifically community or regional parks - where a cricket pitch donation could be accepted, properly permitted, and supported by adequate infrastructure; and,
C. Recommend staff to host community meeting to discuss interest and feasibility of replacing a Backstop with Cricket Pitch at Dwight Amey Park.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to other than recommended (identify specific findings and/or conditions amended to be addressed in the motion); or,
3. Deny; or,
4. Refer to staff for reconsideration of specific items; or,
5. Continue to a future meeting (date and time to be specified in the motion).
AUTHORITY
Merced Municipal Code § 14.08.015 requires Exclusive Use Permits for organized sports in City Parks.
MMC § 14.08.030(A)(3) requires the Director to find, before issuing an Exclusive Use Permit, that "the use for which the exclusive use permit is sought complies with the use established for the area of the park requested."
2026- 2036 Parks Recreation & Open Space Master Plan park classification framework confirms that organized sports fields belong in Community or Regional parks, not neighborhood parks.
DISCUSSION
The Donation Request
A community member has offered to donate the full cost of materials, supplies, and labor to install a cricket pitch at Dwight Amy Park. The donation is intended to support organized cricket play at the site.
Park Classification Framework
The City of Merced classifies its parks according to a framework established in the 2004 Park and Open Space Master Plan and carried forward in the Merced Vision 2030 General Plan. Under that framework, neighborhood parks are defined as "a combination playground and park, designed primarily for non-supervised, non-organized recreation activities." They are generally small in size (approximately 5 acres) and serve an area of approximately one-half mile radius. Typical facilities found in a neighborhood park include a children's playground, picnic areas, trails, open grass areas for passive use, outdoor basketball courts, and multi-use sport fields for soccer, softball, and baseball - but they are not designed for organized competitive sports.
By contrast, community parks are "planned primarily to provide active and structured recreation opportunities" and are "designed for organized activities and sports." Community parks serve a much larger area and offer more facilities.
Staff confirmed at the September 28, 2026 meeting that the City does not authorize competitive sport play in neighborhood parks specifically because they lack bathrooms and additional parking creating saturation of activity that neighborhood parks are not built to support.
Regulatory Framework - Exclusive Use Permits
Under MMC § 14.08.015, organized sports leagues or tournament play require an Exclusive Use Permit to be conducted in or upon any city park. The permit must be obtained from the Director of Parks and Community Services.
MMC § 14.08.030(A)(3) requires the Director to find, before issuing an Exclusive Use Permit, that "the use for which the exclusive use permit is sought complies with the use established for the area of the park requested." Because Dwight Amy Park is a neighborhood park - established for non-supervised, non-organized recreation - organized cricket play would not comply with the use established for that park, creating a significant barrier to permit issuance.
Additionally, MMC § 14.04.110 provides that the Director of Parks and Community Services may designate areas within any city park for either active or passive recreation activities. Active recreation activities are defined as those that "require the use of equipment or designated facilities, courses, or fields," including baseball, football, volleyball, basketball, and soccer. Cricket organized play would fall within the active recreation category and would require formal designation by the Director before it could be conducted.
Potential for Park Amenity Modification
It is staff’s finding that regular, organized sports are not feasible for neighborhood park uses and that any additional recreational amenities in this specific park would saturate the intended use of the park creating unintended consequences. However, if the applicant was willing to modify the donation, staff would be willing to host a community meeting with neighbors and bring back a public hearing for the Recreation and Parks Commission to determine if removing one backstop would be feasible and of interest of the community to support the addition of a Cricket Pitch.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
There is no direct fiscal impact to the City from accepting or declining the donation itself, as the donor has offered to cover all costs of materials, supplies, and labor. However, staff notes that any permanent improvement installed in a city park becomes a City asset subject to ongoing maintenance obligations. Accepting a cricket pitch at a CFD-funded neighborhood park could create long-term maintenance costs inconsistent with the park's funding structure. If the donation is redirected to a community or regional park, the fiscal impact would be evaluated as part of that park's capital improvement planning process.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Cricket Pitch Proposal at Dwight Amey Park- Presentation