Stonington — The Recreation Commission has developed a revised proposal for the use of town athletic fields that would give its youth leagues a way out of their players having to pay a $25 annual fee.    

Organizations such as Stonington Seals, Stonington Soccer Club and Stonington Youth Football would agree to host one off-season clinic and one summer camp open to the public with profits going to the town to help pay for the eventual replacement of the carpet on the artificial turf football field.

“This is a win-win for everyone,” town Recreation Administrator Richard Ward said about the plan, adding that those who attend the camps, many of whom will be members of those teams, will get something instead of just paying a fee.

He said that if the youth sports organizations do not want to hold a camp and clinic, they can pay a flat fee of $25 a player to use the fields.

It is estimated it will cost $300,000 or more to replace the carpet in about 10 years.

Recreation Commission Chairman Mike Crowley estimates the plan would raise about $18,000 to $20,000 a year to offset that cost.

He said the commission would like to implement the plan this spring.

First it needs to go to the Board of Selectmen for discussion and possible adoption at its April meeting.

A previous proposal in 2014, which called for a sliding hourly fee schedule for youth sports organizations, was met with opposition from youth league officials and residents and was never implemented.

They said the leagues would have to pass on the cost to their players in the form of increased registration fees each year.

Opponents also pointed out that the community youth athletic organizations and their parent volunteers provide opportunities for local children in kindergarten through eighth grade that many other towns either help fund or pay to have in their schools.

In addition, they pointed out that residents already pay for the construction and maintenance of the fields though taxes. The commission went back and revised its plan.

Under the new plan, in-town nonprofit groups, out-of-town nonprofit groups and for-profit groups will continue to pay fees for use of town fields that range from $15 to $125 an hour.

Additional fees are also charged for using things such as lights, the press box and scoreboard.

j.wojtas@theday.com