SARASOTA COUNTY — In a move that could benefit thousands of children and other athletes in South County, the county has opted to shift the responsibility of athletic field maintenance to its Parks and Recreation Department.

The county’s 110 athletic fields have been maintained by the county’s General Services department. County Parks and Recreation Director Carolyn Brown said Parks and Recreation took care of the fields several years ago, but the economic recession forced the county to look for ways to increase efficiency by combining all maintenance-related activities.