Unsatisfied: Royal Oak Batting Cage Facility on the Agenda

Poor maintenance concerns will be part of the discussion when the Royal Oak City Commission considers a five-year lease extension for Grand Slam Baseball Training Center, Inc. at its 7:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall.

The current lease, signed in 2001, provided for two five-year extensions, according to Greg Rassel, director of the Department of Public Service. The first extension, which terminates on Apr. 5, was solely at Grand Slam’s option; the second five-year extension requires approval of the city commission. 

Grans Slam has operated the batting cages at Coolidge and 13 Mile Road since 1982. 

"Staff does not recommend simply accepting the option to extend the lease for another five years. We are not satisfied with the maintenance of the facility and we don’t believe it is in the city’s best interest to tie up this property for another five years without requiring significant improvements and without considering alternative recreational uses," wrote Rassel in a memo to city officials. 

Rassel recommends extending the lease for one year while staff explores recreational options for the site. 

"That could be a new batting cage facility or it could be something totally different," Rassel said. "Grand Slam will be welcome to submit a proposal."

Would you prefer to see a new recreational use for the batting cage site? Tell us in the comments.

From Facebook

Royal Oak Patch's Facebook readers have this to say about what they would like to see at the site:

• Kim: As a parent, I'm just tired of constantly going to other cities because Royal Oak is late to the party. Our skate park is a joke. We never did a splash pad. Do something that draws families!
• Larry: Love the convenience of Grand Slam, but, yeah, it's not in great shape. Pretty much every trip includes a problem with a token machine, delays in balls being pitched, etc. Seems pretty antiquated. Too bad, too, since it's located so closely to Memorial Park
• Kim: Go carting place would be sweet!
• Michael: Community pool
• Julie: Keep the batting cages but update them!