Costa Mesa has a widely acknowledged shortage of lighted athletic fields, and current plans to add fields — such as the agreement with Fairview Developmental Center and master planning some school facilities — will take time to put in place. What should the city do right now to increase available field space?
Did not respond.
ERIC BEVER
Costa Mesa
councilman
Did not respond.
LINDA DIXON
Costa Mesa
councilwoman
The city, school district, sports groups, and Costa Mesa Athletic Foundation's new Youth Sports Council have all met and are working together on short-term and long-term solutions to the field shortages.
The Costa Mesa Sports Complex at Estancia High School is under construction and will add not only a football field, but soccer and track also by fall. Permanent and portable lighting was approved in last year's budget and additional lighted fields will be available for Pop Warner football and soccer this fall once daylight saving time ends. A concessions and restroom structure is in the works for Costa Mesa High School and TeWinkle. The city and the Newport-Mesa Unified School District are committed to master planning both TeWinkle school and Costa Mesa High School to upgrade and better use the field space available so that we get more fields with less effects on residents.
We also need to plan for the long-term by taking an inventory of available vacant parcels throughout the city, both large and small, so that we as a council can consider buying and building first-class sport complexes and parks.
In the meantime, I support taking another look at elementary school sites for practice fields. Many are underused and could be used for T-ball, soccer and Pop Warner football.
Resolving both the short- and long-term field issues is a priority for me because it makes Costa Mesa a better place for families.
KATRINA FOLEY
Costa Mesa councilwoman
We are making significant progress to increase our inventory of safe, lighted playing fields for Costa Mesa young people. We are committed to making every effort to get the Fairview Development Center fields up and running.
We have discussed the plans for the fields at TeWinkle, Costa Mesa, and Davis schools and it will be coming before the council for a vote soon. I would like to see school district officials work with us on a plan to improve these school fields first.
Costa Mesa residents want Costa Mesa athletes to have priority to be able to play on Costa Mesa fields.
