Yorba Linda Needs More Athletic & Recreational Facilities

By Ed Rakochy

Our athletic fields are maxed out. An increase of at least 3000 housing units will occur in the next two to three years. That means around 7500 more residents. We need to answer with more recreational and athletic space for our children.

Right now, our athletic fields in Yorba Linda are overused with several youth soccer leagues, Pop Warner football, baseball and softball sharing the same space. Field space that was once available on many elementary and middle schools is now occupied by portables accommodating the growth in student population.

In the next two to three years at least 3000 new homes will be built in Yorba Linda. That means 3000 more families or around 7500 more residents. We need to respond to this increased growth with more recreational and athletic facilities.

Five-acre mini-parks promised through agreements with developers aren't enough. In fact, with all the increased growth and the addition of the mini-parks, Yorba Linda will be well below its standard of 5 acres of park space for 1000 residents.

SOLUTIONS

The solution to our field space problems could be the 33 acres of undeveloped City-owned property on Bastanchury Road or a possible Santa Ana River park. The Bastanchury Road site is currently being planned as a location for the Friends Christian High School (FCHS).

Because the Bastanchury property is City-owned and will be potentially leased to the FCHS, a joint use agreement for public use of the Friends athletic facilities is in the works, but unfortunately has not been made available to the public.

I am concerned the current FCHS site plan and joint use agreement may not accommodate our City's needs. The FCHS site plan only includes two combination football/soccer fields, with one of the combinations inside a proposed stadium. The plan also includes a regulation hardball and a regulation softball field, which are actually part of the other football/soccer combination.

Little League baseball cannot be played on CIF regulation baseball fields and one soccer field isn't enough. I do not believe the stadium field will be allowed for regular weekend games or weekday practice use.

It would be prudent for the City Council to work with the Friends Church to accommodate the need for more soccer and Little League fields on the Bastanchury location, as well as investigate other sites like a potential Santa Ana River location. Our kids deserve it.