Let the games begin

Mike Swanson

Packs of clinic soccer players will soon be roaming one of the five

new soccer fields at Bonita Canyon Sports Park, perhaps waiting to

hit one of two playgrounds during their siblings’ afternoon games.

Little Leaguers playing 10 a.m. games on one of four diamonds can

stick around to watch their Pony League elders, who are finally

allowed to lead off and steal second before the ball reaches the

catcher’s mitt.

City officials, youth-league organizers, parents and children

gathered Sunday for the long-awaited ribbon-cutting celebration of

Bonita Canyon Sports Park’s public opening. The 33.5-acre park has

been contracted since May 2000, said Marie Knight, Newport Beach

director of recreation and senior services.

“I can’t wait to get out here to hear the crack of the bat, the

celebration of a great goal, and just the laughter of our city’s kids

enjoying their sports,” Newport Beach Mayor Steve Bromberg said.

Bromberg threw out the ceremonial first pitch, which catcher Eric

Hallett of Newport Beach Little League caught and delivered to

Newport Harbor Baseball Assn.’s Austin Wobrock at first, who met

AYSO’s Erin Almaraz at second, who dribbled a soccer ball to third

and high-fived Pacific Coast Girls Fast Pitch’s Cassidy McCullough.

McCullough then sprinted from third and naturally cut the ceremonial

ribbon at home plate with her stomach.

“[Bonita Canyon Sports Park] will have such a great impact on the

city,” said Marce Almaraz, regional commissioner for AYSO. “We

desperately need fields. We could have used it last year, but I’m

just glad it’s here now.”

The fields have already been assigned for fall sports, and

practices on the field are already in session, Knight said.

Almaraz spent the afternoon after the ceremony in front of a

soccer goal, encouraging kids to kick the ball as hard as they could

into the back of the net. Their shot speed was being recorded by a

radar gun.

“The girls are handling the boys so far,” Almaraz said.

About 50 feet away, meanwhile, UC Irvine’s Joe DeMarco helped

12-year-old pitcher, catcher and first baseman Spencer Venegas

fine-tune his swing.

Steve Rautus, part of the Newport Harbor Baseball Assn. and father

of another local baseball player named Spencer, said the association

hopes players and coaches at UCI continue their involvement with the

kids.

“They’re just right up the road from here, so the location’s

perfect, and they have so much to teach these kids,” Rautus said. “I

wish we could have had something like this in Costa Mesa.”

Venegas’ praise for the fields was not quite as enthusiastic as

the adults’, but he had a hard time keeping from smiling after

finishing his mini-lesson and listening to Rautus talk about

baseball.

“These are pretty nice fields,” Venegas said, still smiling.

Two bounce houses, an obstacle course and a mega-slide also

occupied a couple of fields. They won’t be permanent perks of park,

however.

The first 1,000 children in attendance at the Sunday celebration

received a prize of their choice.

The soft, virtually harmless frisbee appeared the top choice. Even

with the high turnout for the event, there was ample open space for

children to try their hand at tossing the disc.

The Rockit Scientists wrapped up the event playing popular classic

rock tunes few kids likely recognized.

Newport Beach City Councilman John Heffernan said the park cost

$32 million, $22 million of which went toward the land alone.

“This is the largest active park in the city,” Heffernan said.

“This is all first class.”

More than 1,000 trees have been planted at the park, and every

blade of meticulously manicured grass is treated with reclaimed

water.

Knight said the opening is about a year behind the date she and

others thought the park would be ready for the public, but she’s done

dwelling on that now.

“It’s here now, and that’s what’s important,” Knight said.

“Everything’s ready to be used, so let’s start using it.”

Every section of the park, which has five soccer fields, four

baseball fields, two playgrounds, two tennis courts and a basketball

court, is open to the public starting today.

“It’s no secret: It’s been a long time coming, and here we are.

... It’s been contentious, somewhat, and difficult, but we got

through it,” Bromberg said.

For more information about Bonita Canyon Sports Park, call (949)

644-3151.