Severe weather damaged the batting cages and fencing at Lake June Park after a thunderstorm moved over the Lake Placid area Friday evening, bringing high winds, hail and heavy rain.
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued by the National Weather Service in Ruskin at 5:36 p.m. Friday, June 19, 2026, for west central Highlands County, including Lake Placid, Placid Lakes and Sylvan Shores. The storm was located over Lake Placid and was nearly stationary. The warning listed radar-indicated 60 mph wind gusts and quarter-size hail, with possible damage to roofs, siding, trees and vehicles.
Some areas of town reportedly saw as much as 7 inches of rain.
At Lake June Park, the most visible damage was to the batting cage structure and nearby fencing. Roof panels were torn from the batting cages, exposing the framing underneath. Sections of chain-link fencing were also bent inward, pushed down or left warped along the edge of the field.
Storm damage was also visible near Lake Placid High School, where fencing was blown over.
According to Interim Town Administrator Mark Schneider, equipment inside the batting cage area appeared to be okay. A few items were knocked over or blown around, but no significant damage to the equipment itself was reported.
In addition to the roof and fencing damage, some tree limbs were down around the area. No other major damage was reported.
Schneider said the town’s first step will be to submit a claim to its insurance carrier. Once repair estimates are received and the town knows what insurance will cover, a budget amendment request will be brought before council for approval before repairs move forward.
Schneider also recognized Jim Fitzgerald, Joseph Gray, Steve Dampier and Alan Keefer for responding after hours to assess the damage, clear debris and make the area safe.
“They responded promptly and worked into the night, cutting and moving much of the debris by hand,” Schneider said. “Their dedication ensured the park was safe and able to remain open for Father’s Day weekend without any risk of injury to children.”
The debris seen near the batting cage structure was the result of that cleanup effort, as employees gathered the damaged panels and materials after the storm.
