Appease both athletic leagues and neighbors

It seems a silly turf battle, that’s for sure. Adults arguing over

grass.

Is fescue mixed with a little Bermuda just right? Or should it be

Kentucky blue? Which is better suited for Little League play?

The debate over when to open the $7-million Bonita Canyon Sports

Park is probably just one of many that will occur over hours of

operations and field-use rules at Newport Beach parks in the coming

months.

Instead of touching off a grass fire that will pit neighbors

against Newport youth sports leagues, city officials can use the

ensuing controversy as an opportunity to plot a course for the future

that will ensure that the needs for children’s recreation don’t clash

with the needs of residents to have peace and quiet.

First, let’s take up the grass issue.

City officials say they stand by their contractor’s decision at

Bonita Canyon to keep the sports teams off the fields until summer,

allowing time for the grass to take hold.

Youth sports representatives say that’s too long and blame the

decision to plant the wrong type of grass for the delay.

We urge cooler heads to prevail.

Let’s be clear. We stand firmly behind the need for youth sports

and youth activities throughout Newport-Mesa. The bustling sounds of

a baseball or soccer field is a sign of a healthy community of

families.

But we can’t help to wonder what the hurry is. The city is right

in wanting to make sure that the fields are completed properly and,

as one city official said, “preserve the city’s investment.”

As for the playing time and extended hours at city parks, we urge

that youth sports officials tread ever so lightly into that turf as

well.

The extended time means fields stay open until 9 p.m., resulting

in extra noise and bright lights for the neighbors to contend with.

Again, while we believe this is just an essential part of a

community, time for good thought and planning needs to take place to

ensure that the community is not abused. Already, some are saying

that 9 p.m. is too late to hear the clanging of bats or endure the

blast of bright lights. Parks officials need to address those issues

now to be fair to all parties.

So while it may take a little time and patience, we believe with

the right planning, Newport Beach can have youth sports and

recreation that will leave its neighbors, dare we say, green with

envy, rather than create what could well be the scourge of the

neighborhood.