Compromise sought in soccer dispute

Angelique Flores

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- The city’s Community Services Commission has

formed an ad hoc committee to settle the ongoing dispute between soccer

parents and residents in the Meadow View School neighborhood.

The panel, which includes commission members, Ocean View School

District officials, AYSO representatives and homeowners, has initially

requested additional police patrols of the area to help control traffic

and parking violations.

In 1998, the American Youth Soccer Organization’s Region 143 leased

the closed Meadow View School on Clark Drive from the school district for

soccer games on Saturdays.

The league renovated the rundown soccer fields with the help of a

youth sports grant through the district before moving in, spending more

than $85,000 on the facility and maintenance.

Since then, however, neighboring homeowners have complained about

increased noise, speeding cars, congested parking and blocked driveways

on the weekends during game time.

“The enjoyment I used to have has turned into frustration,” said

Kathleen O’Brien, adding that she must wake up early on weekends to get a

parking space or else face a blocked driveway.

The AYSO, on the other hand, said it has been plagued by incidents of

vandalism. The most recent -- and probably most costly -- occurred in

October, when vandals killed 1 1/2 acres of grass, leaving children with

one less soccer field. The damage was estimated at $6,000.

Residents and AYSO officials point fingers at each other when the

fields are littered with trash, and they also are at odds over use of the

fields.

Neighbors said AYSO members arrive at 7 a.m. Saturdays, but soccer

officials said they arrive an hour later for setup and allow children on

the fields only after 9 a.m. Residents said games are played not only on

Saturdays, but Sundays too.

“I understand the concerns of the neighbors, and I understand the

concerns of AYSO,” said Ocean View Supt. Jim Tarwater.

“I don’t want this kind of conflict. There’s got to be a proposal of

better use of the fields.”

The city has stepped in to help the two sides reach a compromise.

“The goal is to keep the kids playing and relieve the traffic,” said

Community Services Commissioner Jay Kreitz.

The AYSO season runs from Aug. 15 to Dec. 16, with games played from 9

a.m to dusk every Saturday. With 1,600 children in the region, the site

has about 150 people on the fields at one time when three games are being

played.

The league, however, sometimes subleases the site to other club soccer

groups that host tournaments, including AYSO teams.

“We’ve tried to work with the neighbors,” said Jorggi Delaney,

president of AYSO Region 143.

Neighbors don’t think the efforts are enough, however.

“I don’t have a problem with the kids,” said resident Eric Lux. “The

problem is with the parents.”

Homeowners in the area said it’s the soccer parents who speed down the

residential streets, clog the parking and whose shouts can be heard

through double-paned windows.

“The noise on the weekend is horrendous,” said resident John Partis.

“You’re killing us.”

Commissioners said they sympathize with residents but also recognize

the need for the soccer fields.

“The kids need a place to play, but it’s just not working,” said

resident Denise Sheldon, adding that she realizes soccer officials may

have problems monitoring traffic and parking.

The AYSO has agreed to reduce the number of playing fields from three

to two and will start using the two fields at Haven View School on

Waikiki Lane for tournaments, allowing the league to offer tournaments

while reducing the impact at Meadow View School.

“It’s not just AYSO, but it’s a problem in the city,” said AYSO

representative Bunny Frakes. “It’s the attitude of people, not just

AYSO.”

AYSO and school district officials argue that residents who choose to

live near a school should realize that youth activities come along with

it.

With seasonal sports becoming year-round, more girls playing and more

parents wanting their children involved, youth sports have swelled but

without the accompanying space to match, said Jim Engle, deputy director

of the Community Services Commission.

Everyone seems to agree there is a problem. How to solve it is what

the new committee will work on.

Some possible solutions to be considered include on-site parking

attendants, more car-pooling, having AYSO use fields at local high

schools or parks, installing speed bumps in the residential area, more

police patrols of the parking and traffic in the area and issuing parking

permits for residential parking.

“I’m not willing to pay $10 or have my friends pay $10 to visit me,” Paris said.

Among the other options to be considered are installing slats in the

chain-link fences along the school boundary for residents who want more

privacy, adding more parking and building a concrete wall to reduce

noise.

“The bottom line is there’s not enough open space,” Kreitz said.

The adult sports complex at Central Park, which won’t be open until

2002, will free up Murdy and Edison community parks for youth sports but

even that is still not enough, he said.

“We’ve got to work together to come up with ways to make this work . .

. put together rules and enforce those rules,” Kreitz said.