Freedom Florence Guidelines, Policies & Procedures

Freedom Florence Recreational Complex is a multi-use facility built in 1990 and operated by the City of Florence. The complex is designed to host various state, regional, and national level tournaments; as well as provide championship caliber fields and facilities for the local softball and baseball leagues played both in the spring and fall seasons. The complex features nine lighted baseball/softball fields and seating for spectators. The complex has two press box control towers that include computerized scoreboards, public address capabilities, restrooms and umpire’s locker room, as well as two full service concession stands.

Other amenities at Freedom Florence Recreation Complex include automated batting cages, a gymnastics facility, and three lighted multi-purpose football fields, which provide championship caliber facilities for our local leagues and residents. The Complex also offers a public picnic shelter with outdoor grills, a five-acre pond for fishing and an extensive system of trails for walking, jogging and biking.

The City of Florence Parks and Leisure Services staff is available to assist you with scheduling and planning your event. We look forward to hosting your tournament/event in the Freedom Florence Recreational Complex. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the City of Florence Parks and Leisure Services Department.

Mailing Address

Complex Contact

Neil Paul (Athletic Coordinator)
(843) 665-3253
(843) 669-4597

Coleman Elliott (Tournament Director)
(843) 669-4597

Park Rules & Regulations

• Pedestrians have the right of way throughout the park.
• Personal coolers and outside food are prohibited inside ticketed gates.
• Pets and bicycles prohibited inside ticketed gates and playing fields.
• Motorized vehicles allowed on paved roads and parking lot.
• Open fires are not allowed at any time.
• No alcoholic beverages or weapons of any kind allowed in park.
• No skateboards, roller blades, or scooters allowed.
• No climbing on metal frames or trellis.
• No littering.
• Practice and warm-up only in designated areas.
• Park only in designated areas within the parking lot. Parking on the grass and/or curbsides will not be allowed and are subject to ticket/towing.
• Softball fields are reserved for League / Tournament play and practice only.

Failure to abide by the park regulations may result in penalties and/or termination of park privileges. City of Florence is not responsible for accidents, injuries or loss of property incurred while using park facilities.

Tournaments & Special Events - Conditions for Use

All non-tournament special events will be approved by the City of Florence under a separate agreement. Contact person for non-tournament special events shall be the Parks & Leisure Services Department Manager.

All tournaments / events shall be scheduled through the listed contacts for Freedom Florence Recreational Complex.

All tournament related activities shall abide by the following Conditions for Use:

• To schedule a tournament / event, the Tournament Director shall make contact with the City’s Athletic Coordinator or Athletic Specialist prior to January 1 of each year. (After January 1, tournaments shall be scheduled on a first come – first serve basis.)
• All tournaments shall be secured by a written and signed agreement by the City and the Tournament Director.
• To secure a tournament / event, a twenty team minimum is required.
• A tournament / event may be secured with fewer than twenty teams under a separate agreement and conditions.
• The Tournament Director shall contact the City by 12:00 noon Thursday prior to the event. Failure to notify by Thursday shall cause the Tournament Director to be responsible for providing scorekeepers, for providing their own rooms for umpires and may reflect in future scheduling requests. The Tournament Director must provide the following information:
  
  
  1. Number of fields needed and field set-up.
  2. Start time and scheduled finish time for all fields.
  3. Number of teams participating.
  4. Umpire rooms needed for tournament.
     
     
• Tournament brackets, team listing and coaches’ names shall be faxed or delivered to Freedom Florence Recreational Complex staff by 9:00 a.m. the day before the start of the scheduled event. The fax number is (843) 676-8980.
• The Tournament Director shall obtain from the City a tournament / event pass for each coach and a copy of the rules and regulations to be distributed to each coach/team by the Tournament Director before the start of the scheduled tournament / event. The City will not be responsible for distributing tournament / event passes or rules and regulations. The City will enforce the rules, guidelines, or any special conditions / exceptions of use.
• The Tournament Director will be responsible for assisting the City in gate check-in with coaches and teams.
• The Tournament Director shall be responsible for posting Freedom Florence Complex Rules and Regulations on their website and/or providing each participating team with a copy of the rules prior to the start of the scheduled tournament / event.
  

The City of Florence reserves the right to delay or cancel any tournament / event due to inclement weather or an event that does not meet its obligations or any special condition(s).

The City of Florence shall:

• Provide field(s) for the tournament / event.
• Provide the Association / User with one drag and lining of the fields one day prior to the scheduled start of the tournament / event and each day the tournament / event is to be played.
• Maintain the condition of the playing fields to a suitable playing level. The Association / User will not be allowed to maintain any field or playing area for maintenance unless agreed upon by the City of Florence.
• Operate concessions for the tournament / event.
• Maintain and clean the complex area, concessions and restrooms.
  

Special Notes

Tournament Directors are responsible for communicating park guidelines, policies and procedures to all teams and coaches. Park Policies can be found at www.cityofflorence.com or from the Complex contacts.

Each team participating is allowed to bring ONE team cooler for water or sports drink only. Personal coolers and outside food are prohibited inside ticketed gates.

Failure to honor the Tournament / Event Contract, which results in the cancellation of a scheduled tournament / event, shall cause a $400 penalty plus the City’s estimated loss revenues associated with the cancellation of the tournament / event and may reflect in future scheduling requests with the City of Florence.

For a secured tournament / event that does not reach the required twenty teams, the City reserves the right not to provide scorekeepers, scoreboards, maintenance staff, concessions, a gate or secure umpire rooms unless previously agreed upon through a separate agreement. The Tournament Director shall also pay the City’s standard rental fee for field use.

All signage associated with a tournament /event requires the Tournament Director negotiate and have written approval from the City before placing any signage or advertising in the Complex area. The right to place signage or other forms of advertising is exclusively held by the City of Florence.

Conditions for Gate, Concessions, and Outside Vendors

There are two-full service concessions stands within the Freedom Florence upper and lower complexes. The concession stand opens approximately thirty minutes prior to the start of the first game.

The City normally charges an admission fee to enter the tournament gates and other special events scheduled at Freedom Florence. The City will determine the admission fees and they are subject to vary according to the type of tournament/event scheduled. Unless posted, there is no admission charge for City sponsored youth recreational leagues that play at Freedom Florence.

The City has exclusive rights to all gate receipts and concessions sold in Freedom Florence Recreational Complex. The City reserves the right under certain exceptions (i.e., non-profit organizations, charitable organizations, associations, leagues and/or educational systems) to divide, after expenses, the gate receipts between the sponsoring organization and the City, based upon the negotiated contract agreement with the City and Tournament Director.

By contract, the City may allow and/or negotiate the sale of souvenirs by a Tournament Director for a scheduled tournament / event at Freedom Florence Recreational Complex. Failure to gain approval from the City will be considered a breach of contract and may be subject to a penalty or loss of future privileges. The penalty may be in the form of the Tournament Director’s loss of gate receipts from the tournament.

With prior approval, the City may allow and/or negotiate the sale of concessions or other items from outside vendors. Individuals wishing to seek approval must contact the City.

Conditions for Host Properties

The City of Florence has a binding contract with its Host Properties for Freedom Florence Recreational Complex. The City requires that the Tournament Director of a scheduled tournament / event, list the Host Properties through the Association website or web administrator.

This requirement for tournaments of less than twenty teams is dependent upon the size and/or type of tournament / event.