By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – The Alabaster Board of Education will allow the city to use Larry Simmons Stadium for city sports leagues and events, and the city will allow the Board of Education to use a field at Municipal Park through an agreement inked between the two entities on April 27.

During its April 27 meeting, the Alabaster City Council approved a memorandum of understanding with the Alabaster City School System agreeing to the trade.

“ACS desires to use the field at 5-acre field at Municipal Park for its football practices, and in exchange allow the city of Alabaster Parks programs to use the current Thompson High School football field,” read the agreement.

Alabaster City Manager George Henry said the school system approached the city about the agreement after ACS hired Mark Freeman as its varsity football coach and system athletic director.

The school system will use the field to allow the Thompson Middle School, Thompson High School junior varsity and THS varsity teams to practice together each day, Henry said.

“Coach Freeman is wanting all of them out there practicing together,” Henry told council members during a pre-meeting work session on April 27.

Council members said the agreement also will benefit the Alabaster Parks and Recreation Department by giving it another field to use for city sports leagues.