Medford Parks Commission approves refund for youth team after rainouts wiped out end-of-season makeup games.

MEDFORD -- The Medford Parks Commission, meeting Aug. 18, voted to issue a refund to a youth sports team whose remaining games were lost to weather. Commissioners said the city closed the fields because of rain, and the team's season ended before a makeup date could be scheduled. "So everybody's of the opinion that we're giving back the refund," one commissioner said before the vote passed.

Commissioners also flagged the issue for further discussion at a January planning meeting, saying similar rainout situations "could pop up again." They noted that this year individual teams have been collecting fees and paying the city directly for field permits, but that starting next year the youth sports organization overseeing those teams is expected to handle permit payments centrally.

The same meeting referenced Barry Park and a third baseball field at Veterans Memorial Park off Winthrop Street as fields used for youth baseball and softball games.

Compiled from team and league reports, reader submissions, and local coverage.