YORBA LINDA : Gym OK Is Given Despite Freeze

The City Council has approved plans for a new gymnasium that will be jointly operated by the city and Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District.

The council moved despite the fact the the project’s $2.7 million in funding is tied up in the county’s frozen investment pool.

Mayor Daniel T. Welch said the gymnasium should not be delayed because of the county bankruptcy.

“A public project that is delayed is a project that never goes forward,” Welch said. “We have the money (elsewhere) to do it without jeopardizing the city’s financial health.”

The wisdom of proceeding was disputed by Councilman Gene Wisner.

“As long as that money is tied up I will continue to (oppose) the project,” said Wisner, who voted against the project at a council meeting last week.

The 24,000-square-foot facility will be built on Casa Loma Avenue between Yorba Linda Middle School and Hurless Barton Park.

Students from the middle school will use the gym when school is in session, and also on some evenings during the school year.

City programs will have use of the gym most evenings and on weekends.

The new gym will be called the Casa Loma Field House.