SCLH Softball field reopens with added regulations

Play has resumed at Del Webb Field. That follows a three-week closure due to legal action taken against members of the Sun City Lincoln Hills Softball Club for harassment and discrimination, according to the Sun City Lincoln Hills Community Association Board of Directors. In an announcement from the Lincoln Hills Board of Directors on April 29, the board said that anyone looking to participate in clubs or use the softball field must agree to an internal dispute resolution (IDR). "The IDR includes specific requirements regarding conduct, eligible participants and stringent time periods of dead time between one club's fill departure from the softball field and the next club's entrance," the Board of Directors wrote in an April 29 announcement. "The IDR is a part of the Board's efforts to ensure a safe environment free of hostility and/or discrimination." According to Sun City Lincoln Hills Community Association executive director Robert Richardson, teams in the Sun City Lincoln Hills Softball Club will be required to sign the internal dispute resolution, because that's where the allegations began. There are 11 teams in the softball club. If a team does not sign the agreement, then the team members will not have access to their reserved field times, according to the announcement. The internal dispute resolution "was only created to get the softball clubs back to play," Richardson said Tuesday, "and had nothing to do with a legal settlement" brought on by a lawsuit against Lincoln Hills. "The allegations are being handled separately from the IDR process," Richardson said Tuesday. "The association has implemented efforts to help make sure that all softball players can enjoy a safe and positive recreational environment." The Sun City Lincoln Hills Community Association board of directors echoed a similar statement from Richardson in its April 29 update. "The Board has been, and remains, committed to resolving complaints and disputes so that all who wish to participate in the enjoyment of those facilities can do so free from the worry of discrimination and/or hostility," the Board of Directors wrote in its April 29 announcement.