Jenny MarderFor better or worse, love it...

Jenny Marder

For better or worse, love it or hate it, the $18-million Youth Sports

Complex opened to residents Saturday after a decade of planning,

construction and controversy.

More than 2,000 people streamed into the controversial park

Saturday evening to celebrate its dedication ceremony. Children and

parents finally had a chance to revel in its opening after about a

decade of planning and construction.

Residents were treated to their first good look at the seven

softball fields, picnic area and playground that make up the 45-acre

park, bounded by Goldenwest and Gothard streets and Ellis and Talbert

avenues. The complex also includes an 800-space parking lot, two tot

lots, two restroom and concession stand buildings and a maintenance

building.

Bill Jackson, who plays in Huntington Beach with his team, Stewart

Title, is thrilled to finally have a go at the new complex.

“It’ll be nice to play here at the new facility,” he said. “I’m

looking forward to it.”

For 25 years, Jackson has been playing at other fields in town,

namely at Edison High School and the Murdy Park Community Center.

Adult leagues will now be shifted to the new complex, while Murdy and

Edison will be reserved primarily for youth sports.

Despite Saturday’s fanfare, the center has drawn many opponents

over the years, who criticize the complex as too costly. Since

residents first approved plans for a $1.5-million complex in 1996,

the project has grown in size and the price tag has shot up more than

$16 million.

Most of the added costs came from cleanup of contaminated land,

which was formerly an oil field and a landfill. The number of fields

were also doubled, Engle said.

Huntington Beach City Councilwoman Debbie Cook said that she

opposed the complex in November, 2001 for “one reason and one reason

only.”

“We didn’t have the revenue to pay for it and we still don’t,”

Cook said. “We are at least a half a million short annually. Does

that mean we let go five police officers?”

Huntington Beach resident Tim Geddes calls the complex “the

biggest boondoggle in my 20 years of living in Huntington Beach.”

“However noble the idea, the costs just don’t justify the benefits

” Geddes said. “There’s just no way that any recreational facility

should be costing $18 million, even in Beverly Hills,” he said. “It’s

just ridiculous. Decisions were made to go forward with the sports

complex based on promises that were made and that is wrong.”

Others lauded the turnout as an indication of widespread city

support for the project.

“Even though people complain about cost of it, the city took a

piece of useless land and made it really special,” Former mayor Ralph

Bauer said. “I think people will look back and say what was the fuss

about?”

The park is already being put to use. Players filled all seven

fields Monday night.

A 6-foot fence will surround the park, the City Council decided in

June, so that the city can make up some of the money spent on it in

parking fees. It will cost $1 a day to park there. City officials set

a nominal fee, but expect a high turnover rate.

The seven overlaying soccer and football fields, which still need

more time to settle into the soil, won’t be ready until as late as

next spring. And there’s still more work to be done. Phase II of the

center, which would include two artificial turf soccer arenas, two

plastic-tile roller hockey rinks, a nine-station batting cage and a

pro shop, would generate more revenue and help make the park self

supporting, Engle said.

About $2 million has been secured for the second phase, which

would be paid back with revenue generated by the park, Engle said.

The Community Parks Foundation, which will handle construction and

operation of the five-acre second phase, has put construction on hold

“for business reasons,” Engle said. “The goal is to have it open and

operating in 2004.”

Bauer is also pushing for the city to move forward with plans for

further expansion of the park. Eventually, Bauer hopes to also see a

swim complex at an open lot on Ellis Avenue, between Gothard and

Goldenwest streets. Money for further expansion could come from a

bond issue that would have to be approved by voters, Bauer said.

Bauer plans in the future to form a citizen’s committee to try and

float a bond to push expansion through.

“There are three things people love in this town without

exception; parks, the library and the pier,” he said. “With the

nature of the constituency in Huntington Beach, I think we’d have a

shot at getting a 2-3 vote. I think people would like to see their

parks improved.”

The city’s commitment to the park is a testament to its dedication

to the health of its residents, said Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, who spoke

at the opening.

“We have our kids working out, we have our kids exercising,”

Rohrabacher said. “That’s what this is about -- making a better

America by making better kids. My wife’s about to launch three new

kids into the world and they’re going to play right here in

Huntington Beach.”

* JENNY MARDER covers City Hall. She can be reached at (714)

965-7173 or by e-mail at jenny.marder@latimes.com.