Plymouth Bans Tailgating At Nixon Field
By Stacey Creasy
PLYMOUTH �At first, some students thought it was just a nasty rumor, but the Plymouth Park Board has banned tailgate parking near the outfield fence at Nixon Field.
The park board voted unanimously to ban the tailgating. On Thursday, school officials, including Plymouth Athletic Director Roy Benge back the idea.
In fact, school officials approached the park board in the first place.
�This has been a growing problem during the past five years,� Benge said. �We decided this is something we had to do.�
The new rule goes into effect this season, a year when Plymouth is the top ranked team in Class 3A.
In recent seasons, fans and students have made it a habit to park and tailgate along the outfield fence line. Benge sent a document to the park board prior to their session outlining numerous complaints opposing coaches and Indiana High School Athletic Association officials have levied against the tailgating.
The complaints include interfering with a ball in play, affecting the outcome of a game.
Vulgar and unsportsmanlike comments were made to the players on the opposing team.
Squirt guns were used to shoot water at the players from the opposing team and gum wrapped up in tin foil was thrown at players from the opposing teams.
Baseballs hit out of the park also pose safety and liability concerns.
Benge said the complaints have reached the point where, if the school and the park board did not act, IHSAA tournaments could be pulled from Nixon Field.
During past seasons, Benge has tried to rope off the area. Students and fans simply brought in bigger trucks which left ruts in the grass. One year, a car backed into a light pole and broke it off at the base.
Benge said other problems include trash, glass bottles and cookout ashes left at the scene at the end of each game.
�We have tried everything else that I can think of,� Benge added. �This is the only answer.�
During the park board meeting, one senior high school player asked the board not to issue the ban. The student said there are only 14 home games and asked if parents could monitor the area.
The board voted for the ban, Benge said. He has talked to the ballplayer, who now has a better understanding why the ban is needed.
In Benge�s opinion, the problem has reached the level that the facility and the way the game is managed is under scrutiny, the school�s reputation with the IHSAA is at stake, not to mention the working relationship with the NLC and non-conference schools Plymouth plays.
The members of the park board agree. Park board president Jim Causey said the ban will eliminate the chance of ongoing problems.
The coaches have no problem with the ban. Their focus is on the action on the field, not outside the ball diamond.
Officials from the school and the park want to remind the public that high school facilities are under strict requirements from the IHSAA.
If those requirements are not met, the IHSAA can take action.
Benge is willing to work with the students. He is going to try to set up an area north of the Plymouth dugout where students can sit on portable bleachers and even grill food. Coolers will not be allowed because the students can purchase cold drinks from the concession stand.
�I am willing to give it a try, give the kids their own place, their own identity,� Benge said. �We�ll see how it works out.�
Benge said it is a shame a handful of students who cannot behave forced the change.
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