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Home My WebLink About0194.092--.----"'. (j) stafJei»* t __ r-March 19, 1992 HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL Palo Alto, california COmmuni ty Athletic Fiel('l..::L Status Report Members of the Council: Report in Brief Council has received correspondence regardi~g playi~g-field issues impacting Palo Al to baseball plaj'ers, particularly 'those in the Bahe Ruth Baseball prograrr.s. That correspondel1ce has been referred to staff. This ro?port is in response to the eXl:'resscd concerr,s, and outlines action that staff intends to take t; deal ~ith these concerns. No council action is required. During the fall months, staff fror.! the ReCl'e<:ltion and Parks Divisions met with represe::ltatives fror:'j the Palo Alto Bab~ R'Jth Baseball and Bobby Sox Girls Softball organizations to discuss field-related issues at the Cubberley site, A. plan ;.,ras discussed, as a compromise, that would serve as a short-term solc.;tion to :make the field at Cubberley usea~le for both Bobby Sox and Babe Ruth. In order to r:,eet the Tleccs for baseball and i'ts larger srecj al i zed space requirements, longel:" term opticns also needed to be explored. These optio!"'.$ i;--,.:::lwde discussiDns ',dt!"1 th2 Palo Alto Unified Scheol District regarding renovaticn of play ing t ields at J. L. St.::lnf,:>rd Middle School and perhaps Gunn High School. Staff again discussed these options i",ith the ":'",0:) orgar'.izati:;ns, and all parties hc:!ve agreed to a plan that -.. rill acco;-r,plish the follo·.dn.g! 1, Sat ist)' the im~ediat.e needs of Sebby Sox Softball, Bal:"e Ruth Baseball, ard Willie HCCovey Baseball progt"ams by providing shared field space at the Cubberley sOllth dial':1ond. To accomplish this, ::-,odificatic,ns \.rill be made to the field, which include moving the ter.;porary bac}t.stop, base pegs, horne plate and pitc.hers plates, as \rr,'ell as relocating irrig".!tion controls. C~.R:194:92 L ________________________________ ~ ~ --, - ...... Page Two It is estimated that the project '",;ill take t .. "O to three · ... eeks to co~plete, and ~ill be scheduled at a time t~at h~s ~inimum impact on practice schedules. 2. In order to solve this problem over lhe long t€r~, staff and trle youth sports groups ~re I:'.€Eting ... dth the Palo .A.I t·:> Unifi:;od School District to develop a plan to rearrange and renovate the sports fields at J. L. Sta7'lior-o Middle School in S:lch a .... 'ay that both District .:;nd CO;"!1T:1unity use.rs · ... 'ill benefit. The youth groups intend to be. ~ctive part icipa!'.ts in this plan by contributing fur::js, Lr,dterials ard labor to help implement such a project. This s;"lOuld sa':.isf)' the field needs for Babe Ruth Baseball .. Giver>. the emergence of WOmen's soft:ball programs at the college and high school levels, the City should anticipate cont.inu.;.d gro ... th and €xp.ansioTl of the Bobty 50)( program. 0:-::,,;03 the above solution for !::-aseball field space is complete, some renova.tion at Cl.lbberley wi.ll provide qual ity garr,e space for girls' softball. A second issue c01!1.J.11.unicated to council cor;eerned 'Jut-of-town participation in Bobby Sox and 'I'd 11 ie McCovey programs. In the case of Bobby Sox softball, ~he prograr:-, has increased fcorn 300 girls to 400 girls. This in{.~lude5 sO":re girls fro!', Los Altos, but most of that gro ..... th is Palo 1>..1 to resident.s. Scca'.J.se this program has growr. so dramatical1J.~, Bobby Sox has received penTlissior. to LIse a Los Altos school site for ga~es and practic~. In an effort to provide activities for East Palo Alto~ staff and Volunteers have atterr.pted to recr·uit East Palo Alto youth to participate in the City' 5 ioi'i llie McCcvey League, ""hich caters toward the fleeds of those whc cannot compete at t~e Babe Ruth level. This is consistent iI.'i th previous Cou!",ci!. concerns and their present priori ties. Appn:: .. ..:irn2.t.el y thirty-f.i ve Ea5t Palo Al to youth participated in t.he prograr. last year. If "ecessarYr a plan .... ·jl1 be: considered in future year-s to li~,it rarticiFc:tic-n in the program to those youth · .... ·ho attend Falo !I.lto sch:,ols or are reside:iJts of Palo Alto and East Palo Alto only. Hov.'ever, it is not cu.rrently necessary to decrease partie ipation in. the Willie MGCCive)~ L€agu€, as it does not impact adequate Babe R~th field sp3ce. ~OCC1U5iQns Staff has met 'With repre.sentatives from Palo Alto Babe Ru'th Baseball and Bobby Sox Girls Sofcoall. A plan to nlod~fy the south diamond at the. Cubberley site has been ag-reed upon~ The planned modific3tions would satisfy the immediate needs for p~actice and gain spa-:e for both or;3"anizations. CMR;194:92 page Three staff has contacted trot: Palo Alto Unified ~(:hool Distri,;:t to $€t ur meetings to discuss improverr,ents to ~istrict playi.ng fields. Representatives from the youth SPCl:rts groups i.!Jll part.i.cipate in these discussions, and it is hoped tha;t a plan can be developed to all-eviate fip.:lo shortage issues that exist in. Palo l..lto. Staff ilrill re~'urn to Cour!cil with an updat~ and status report o.:>::e thE!se discussions take pl~ce. Respect.fully subuitt-ed, Daniel 9. Williams Dlr~~tor of Recreation paul Thiltg Dir1=ctor co COmmur.it:l Services I ! I ~~l ~"1,.n/.g"" "'--- fSr,stan-o City ~: 194: 92 cc: Richard Beckwith Individuals ",'1".0 Wrote Letters.