New complex on schedule

Jose Paul Corona

With 70-foot lights looming over the construction, the city’s

$18-million sports complex is right on schedule for a spring

completion and fall opening.

“We’re right on schedule with the project,” said David Dominguez,

senior supervisor of park development.

The 45-acre Sports Complex will have eight softball fields with

eight overlaying soccer and/or football fields, an 850-space parking

lot, two tot lots, two restrooms, two concessions stands and a

maintenance building.

Construction should be complete in April or May of 2003 and the

park will open in the fall, Dominguez said.

The controversial complex with the hefty price tag has many eager

residents already asking when the park will open, Dominguez said.

That six-month wait between the time it is completed and the open

date are necessary, he said, to let the turf settle properly.

“The worst thing we can do is let people in there [right away],”

Dominguez said.

Once the new complex is open the adult softball leagues in the

city will play there and the fields the teams currently use, at

Edison High School and Murdy Park Community Center, will be used for

more youth-oriented sports.

“It’s going to provide some much, much needed playing fields,”

Councilwoman Shirley Dettloff said.

Large-scale tournaments will also be held at the park.

“That’s what people are really excited about,” Dominguez said.

City officials will begin setting up a fee schedule for the

complex within the next month or two, Dominguez said.