There Costa Mesa city leaders go again....

There Costa Mesa city leaders go again. First goes the skating rink

and then the bowling alley; now they want to start taking away our

lighted athletic fields.

At this rate, kids in our wonderful city of Costa Mesa will have

nowhere to recreate.

Busy kids stay out of trouble, especially when they are involved

in sports. Reducing the places where they can practice will

ultimately reduce the number of kids that are able to participate.

Currently, the lighted fields are so crowded, you can barely find

enough space to practice. The city needs to reconsider its decision

to renew the permit at Kaiser, even if it means shutting the lights

off earlier or cutting down the available days. Anything would be

better than pulling them out completely. I am sure a compromise with

the neighbors can be reached.

HEATHER PLASCENCIA

Costa Mesa

The City Council of Costa Mesa needs to rethink its decision on

not allowing portable lights at Kaiser Field.

As an American Youth Soccer Organization coach for Newport Mesa

Region 97, I have experienced firsthand not only the severe lack of

fields for the AYSO soccer teams in general but also the virtual

nonexistence of lighted fields on the east side of Costa Mesa.

Most soccer coaches and parents can’t get off work early enough to

run their practices before dark in the fall. Without lights parents

won’t be able to coach. With fewer coaches, AYSO will not be able to

handle the thousands of kids who benefit from being in an organized

sport.

Lights at Kaiser until 8 p.m. should be allowed and the city

should take a hard look at other fields where it can set permanent

lights up.

People who moved in by parks and fields knew going in there would

be activity at the fields but the benefits for the kids who live in

the area far outweigh the negatives a few people are up in arms

about.

DAVID WOOTERS

Newport Beach

How can the city provide enough lighted fields for all our youth

programs? By leaving the portable lights in use where they are.

If not, the number of kids able to play in youth sports programs

will have to be limited. Is that what we want for our community?

What are residents complaining about? Are the lights on in the

middle of the night? Do they shine directly into their living rooms

or bedrooms at all hours? My goodness, have we lost all sense of

community that we can not endure a little bit of light for a few

weeks before daylight saving time? Are these people offering

suggestions for where these kids should play sports, or do they just

not care?

The city really needs to look into the resources offered by AYSO

Region 120 ($50,000) to add to the amount of lighted fields in our

city.

There are a number of parks as well as school facilities that

would benefit from the addition of lights. We need to find more space

for our kids, not take away the limited amount we already have.

CHERYL CRUZ

Costa Mesa

Use daylight, the greatest source of light that I know. It’s very

simple. We go on daylight saving time next week and they can all play

in the daylight, and we don’t need to use electricity.

JO BLACK

Costa Mesa

I’m hoping the City Council of Costa Mesa and the members of the

Parks and Recreation Committee will reconsider their decision to

remove the temporary lighting from Kaiser School. I don’t practice at

Kaiser but I already see the waterfall effects of removing this

lighting.

As a coach for the last three years in region 120, I can testify

to the already overcrowded conditions on our current practice fields.

Additionally, Measure A construction has recently made a significant

impact on many of our fields, in case no one has noticed.

Removing temporary (or any) lighting will further exacerbate this

problem. Ultimately, the ones who will suffer will be kids who want

to play soccer.

The board and the council should keep in mind that soccer and any

of the organized sports run in this city are more than just fun and

games for the kids. Sports, sportsmanship and learning the value of

teamwork are all part of raising our children to be good citizens and

helping them grow up to be well-rounded, educated and healthy adults.

Aren’t the obstacles to raising our children great enough without

limiting the sports they play because there is nowhere to play them?

Additionally, isn’t that what these fields are for? They should be

used. Isn’t that the point?

Without knowing all the specifics, the residents surrounding

Kaiser have a legitimate point in that it is an inconvenience.

However, these same residents have chosen to live next to a public

park. I can think of worse things to live next to.

Please consider: Is it just a few, vocal residents who have a

problem with the lights, or is it the whole neighborhood? How many

residents are actually inconvenienced? And what is the degree of that

inconvenience?

What other sites does commissioner Byron de Arakal have in mind to

replace Kaiser given the already crowded fields and the encroachment

of Measure A construction? I would think this question should be

answered before removing the lights from Kaiser.

I’m hoping they will reconsider or at least hold off the

implementation of the decision in order to come up some realistic

alternatives. Writing this, I came up with one: some sort of field

rotation for the temporary lights.

I’m hoping that whatever decision is ultimately made, it is made

in mind with those most impacted by that decision -- our kids.

MARK ROGINSON

Costa Mesa