BELLAIRE, Texas – Bellaire Little League is looking to expand its reach by acquiring a softball field at Meyerland Park, but the proposal has hit a roadblock.
Residents who live just feet away from the park are pushing back against the plans, demanding transparency from the City of Houston and the Little League organization itself.
The expansion plan involves upgrading an existing Meyerland Park softball field, which would be used by Bellaire Little League for its games and practices. The Little League aims to rebuild the field, replacing old chain link fences, updating equipment, and adding a temporary outfield fence that could be removed on weekends.
In exchange for the field, the Little League has offered to help maintain the entire park, including mowing the lawn and taking on other maintenance tasks, relieving the burden on the City’s Parks and Recreation Department.
However, neighbors in the Meyerland area are expressing serious concerns about what the expansion could mean for their community.
Neighbors push back
Local residents have launched a petition that has already gathered over 800 signatures. The petitioners are asking that the park’s green spaces be preserved, traffic in the area be limited, and that the field remain available for recreational use by everyone in the community—not just for organized Little League events.
“My concern is the amount of traffic this could bring,” said Sean Sachtleben, a nearby resident. “We’re talking about 30 to 40 cars per game, with several games a day. As homeowners who pay taxes to the City of Houston, we expect to have a say in what happens in our neighborhood.”
Sachtleben also expressed doubts about the proposed temporary fencing. “I have a hard time believing that a 500-foot metal fence is going to be taken down every weekend. It seems unrealistic.”
Communication breakdown
One of the main frustrations for neighbors is that they only learned about the proposed expansion plans recently—through a small notice in a local publication. “We had no information on the project until we saw it in the Bel Air Buzz last week,” said Sachtleben. “To hear about it so suddenly, with no prior communication, was very disheartening.”
City and little league respond
In a statement, the City of Houston’s Parks and Recreation Department confirmed that it is in talks with Bellaire Little League about the field expansion. However, the City emphasized that no formal agreement will be signed without public engagement, ensuring that community feedback will be taken into account before any final decisions are made.
Bellaire Little League President Sam Dagley says the organization’s goal is not to take over the park or limit its public access. “We’re not trying to close off the park,” Dagley explained. “We want to grow and develop a 13- and 14-year-old league, and for that, we need a little more space.”
Despite the Little League’s assurances, neighbors remain skeptical. They believe that full transparency and an open dialogue with the community could ease their concerns and help find a middle ground that works for everyone.
Councilmember Amy Kamin, who represents the area, has confirmed that no official contract has been signed between the City’s Parks and Recreation Department and Bellaire Little League at this time. However, she did not comment on how involved the neighbors would be in the decision-making process moving forward.
For now, the future of the Meyerland Park field remains uncertain as the community continues to voice its opinions and seek clarity on what’s next.
As Bellaire Little League and Meyerland residents continue to debate the expansion, both sides are calling for open communication and transparency to ensure that the park remains a valuable resource for the entire community.