FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. — UPDATE: Fernandina Beach commissioners voted unanimously Wednesday to reconsider their Aug. 8 vote to replace the Joe Velardi softball field with 16 pétanque courts. The motion will be taken up at the next commission meeting.
People in the Fernandina Beach community will be attending the August 21 city commission meeting to urge the commissioners to change their minds about replacing the Joe Velardi softball field.
Since the 1950s, people in the Fernandina Beach community have been coming to watch their kids play softball at the field, but now there's a chance that will not be able to happen anymore.
Mark Puca was concerned when on August 8, the city of Fernandina Beach voted unanimously to replace the field with 16 pétanque courts.
“There was a lot of push-back," Puca said.
The City of Fernandina Beach told First Coast News the city’s waterfront park, currently known as Parking Lot C and D, has 16 pétanque courts located within it’s footprint, and plan on moving those courts to Joe Velardi Field. Puca says Velardi and Puca’s grandfather started the little league charter in the 1950s, creating a tradition playing softball at the field.
“There were many games played here by my children’s parents, my children’s grandparents and my children’s great grandparents," Puca said.
The city says improvements are being made to numerous fields including Ybor Alvaraz Sports Complex and MLK Jr. Park. Both are currently in the design phase for 2025. Puca believes it would not be a good idea to get rid of the Joe Velardi Field, because it would affect youth players' growth, as other fields have already been replaced.
Working with city leaders in the past, Puca is confident a resolution will be made that benefits both sides.
The City of Fernandina Beach told First Coast News that based off the public’s response, they will revisit this topic at the meeting on August 21st.