City gives green light to improvements at sports parks

Much-needed improvements will be made at local sports parks under a plan the City Council unanimously approved last week.

The improvements include new shade structures at Woodfield Park and Aliso Viejo Community Park and lights and a restroom at Foxborough Park. The community improvements stem from an extensive effort by the City's Recreation Ad Hoc Committee, led by Mayor Pro Tem Donald Garcia and Council Member Phillip Tsunoda.

"While it's been a very labor intensive six to eight months to get to this point, I'm very happy we are here," Council Member Tsunoda said. "I'm even more excited that within the next several months the community will actually get to feel the benefit from these improvements."

The overall cost of the improvements, which will be funded through the City's Enhancement Fund, are roughly $949,000, with the City covering 75 percent. The remaining 25 percent of improvement costs will be shared with the youth sports groups most associated with the fields.

The agreement specifically calls for a prefabricated restroom and sports field lighting for the entire complex at Foxborough Park, which is primarily used by Aliso Viejo's AYSO District 889. The agreement includes installing 12 shade structures over bleachers at the six baseball fields at Woodfield Park, which is mainly used by the Aliso Viejo Little League. Six shade structures will also be installed over the bleachers at the Aliso Viejo Community Park, which is mostly used by the Aliso Viejo Girls Softball organization.

"The City is being extremely proactive with making improvements to our sports fields that will benefit our youth for many years to come," said Mayor Pro Tem Garcia. "I am thrilled that we have been able to work with our local sports groups to identify these improvements and make them a reality."

"This is a much needed improvement and about time. I only hope they put the shade structures up high enough so kids cannot access and vandalize. I personaly think our goal should be to have bathrooms at all of our city parks."
Theresa