Girl’s softball is seeing the light at Howard Park with unanimous approval by Ione’s City Council. Following the recommendation by the city’s Park and Recs commission, the council approved a plan Tuesday night brought forward by Amador Little League West for a minimum of three softball fields to be constructed at no cost to the city. The proposal offered an $3,500 annual fee with various tasks in the care of the facility to be mutually agreed upon by both parties. A separate governing board will oversee the softball program, which promises eligibility to girls throughout Amador County. The first field will be constructed by the end of the year and the next phase in 2027. In other business, two landscape contracts were awarded to separate contractors for the entrance to Castle Oaks and for the Train Depot Park. Costs were estimated at $33,000 and $75,000 respectively. The council also received a qualified audit report for 2023-2024 and also approved their budget for the current fiscal year.