City buys park for $5 million

In a year or two, Newport Beach residents may be playing ball against an ocean backdrop at Sunset Ridge Park, after a state commission on Thursday finalized the sale of the 15-acre park to the city.

The California Transportation Commission voted to sell the Caltrans-owned parcel at West Coast Highway and Superior Avenue to the city for $5 million. It’s the culmination of about five years of effort by the city that was slowed down by disagreements about the appropriate price.

“For us to acquire 15 acres in a city that’s virtually built out, I think is a pretty good achievement,” Newport Beach City Councilman Steve Rosansky said. “We’re 100 years old, and we’re still building new parks.”

Developing the park could cost up to $8 million and could take two years. Rosansky said it will have at least two baseball diamonds and one or two soccer fields. The city will probably hold community outreach meetings to learn what residents want at the park.

Under an earlier deal, the city would have paid $1.5 million to the state and then signed a long-term lease for the property at a nominal fee. Then the state wanted to charge fair market value, which could have been significantly more than the $5 million Newport will now pay.

Rosansky said that though the park purchase will cost the city more in the short run, it’s ultimately a good deal for Newport.

“I’m just glad that we actually own the property now, instead of being a tenant or having to worry that they might try and sell the property out from under us,” he said.