Athletics group has raised half of needed funds

Michael Miller and Alicia Robinson

Plenty of Costa Mesa city and community leaders would like to build a

reputation as a family-friendly city that encourages recreation and

athletics. Now they’re being asked to put their money where their

mouths have been.

The Costa Mesa Community Athletic Foundation plans to enhance the

city’s two high schools with a new sports stadium and an Olympic-size

pool, and it wants the city to pony up $1 million for the effort. The

City Council will consider the request on April 19.

The athletic foundation, which began raising funds in 2003, wants

$7.25 million to undertake its projects at the high schools. Through

its fundraising arm, Costa Mesa United, the foundation so far has

garnered about $3.5 million from donors and fundraising events, said

athletic foundation President David Brooks. In May, the Foundation

plans to hold a “Million Dollar Memorial Day” pledge drive at all

Costa Mesa schools that serve the sixth grade and above.

“We’re kind of in that caldron stage where you let things boil and

ideas pop up,” said Mike Scheafer, a board member of the athletic

foundation. “We’re talking to the Olympic Committee and some other

groups that might be able to help out.”

The Athletic Foundation’s goal is to construct a 50-meter swimming

pool at Costa Mesa High School and a 2,500-seat athletic stadium at

Estancia High School. At present, all Newport-Mesa high schools share

the stadium at Newport Harbor High School, and, on occasion, at

Orange Coast College. Using other fields often causes scheduling

difficulties for the two Costa Mesa schools.

“OCC is usually booked Thursday through Saturday, so those days we

use Newport Harbor,” Scheafer said. “We could use OCC depending on

the schedule, but primarily Newport is our home field.”

Costa Mesa High and Estancia High have 25-meter pools for

regular-season events, Brooks said, but these pools are too small for

California Interscholastic Federation competitions, which both

schools frequently enter.

The Newport-Mesa district, which recently passed the Measure A

bond issue to renovate many of its classroom facilities, has voiced

support for Brooks’ organization and has pledged about $500,000

toward construction as well as maintenance of the facilities once

they’re built.

“It’s an absolutely wonderful project, especially in times of

tight constraints with the school district,” said district

spokeswoman Jane Garland. “The school district officially supports

it. It’s a wonderful example of public and private collaboration.”

The feel-good, pro-youth project may face a rockier road when it

comes to getting city funding, however. After hearing about the

project Tuesday, some City Council members had reservations about

promising money, and Mayor Allan Mansoor has been a strong proponent

of basic city services rather than frills, such as recreation.

“I’m a very big supporter of the program and have been all along,”

said Councilman Gary Monahan, who even got camera time in a video

presentation the foundation gave to the council. But he added a

caveat: As usual, the city’s budget is tight. It could take up to two

years to find the money -- if the council agrees to the donation.

“I didn’t want people to think it’s just going to be this magic

donation that comes out of the sky,” Monahan said.