Lake Zurich OKs advertising signs on ballfields

Lake Zurich's youth baseball and softball organization has gained permission to install advertising signs at the fields as a way to raise money to pay for future improvements at the facilities and benefit the community at large.

Village board trustees this week voted 6-0 in favor of allowing the temporary signs at Lions and Staples parks. Staples Park on Red Bridge Road is a publicly owned village facility, while Lions Park on Main Street in downtown Lake Zurich is privately controlled by the namesake service organization.

Gloria Palmblad, administrative secretary for the Lake Zurich Baseball and Softball Association, said it'll be the first time the group tries to sell advertising banners that would be placed on outfield fences. Plans are for the ads to first be on the fences at Staples Park's six fields, then possibly expanding to the Lions Park diamond.

Palmblad said sponsors of the baseball and softball association's 70 teams will be offered a chance to be in a package that includes the outfield banner ads. She said it's hoped $5,000 to $10,000 can be raised through the outfield fence advertising from May 1 through Oct. 31.

“Our goal is to put the money back into facility improvements,” Palmblad said Thursday.

Lake Zurich Trustee Tom Poynton and other officials noted how some of the advertising cash raised by the private association eventually will improve the publicly owned Staples Park and benefit the entire community. The village limited the maximum size of the banner ads to 4 feet high and 8 feet wide.

Village officials said the Lake Zurich Baseball and Softball Association has a history of paying for park improvements. The most recent contribution was for early-warning lightning detection systems at Staples and Lions parks in 2010.

Palmblad said the association maintains the diamonds at Lions and Staples parks.

Up to 1,400 participants are expected to sign up to play baseball and softball in the association this year, Palmblad said. Players range in age from 5 to 18.