EDITORIAL:More land means more fun for everyone

It was a big week for parks in Newport Beach.

Two days after Crystal Cove and other parts of the Irvine Ranch Land Trust were designated as a National Natural Landmark, the California Transportation Commission agreed to sell 15 acres of Caltrans-owned land at West Coast Highway and Superior Avenue to Newport Beach for $5 million. In about two years, the now empty land should contain a couple of baseball diamonds and a soccer field or two — and, with so many youth and adult teams vying for a spot to practice and play, the additions will be heartily welcomed.

The commission’s vote on Thursday ended about five years of up-and-down work by city leaders to get control of the land. The up part of that work was when it appeared the city might get the land for about $1.5 million — just $100,000 per acre, a definite steal in this day and age. The down part was about a year ago, when state officials decided they wanted to sell the land for much more than $5 million — perhaps as much as $18 million.

In the end, the agreement reached was, as City Councilman Steve Rosansky put it, a “pretty good achievement.” After all, the city did just get 15 more acres of park land when such open space is rare and at a premium. Such open space also is obviously, and rightly, much desired by Newport Beach residents.

Development of the fields is likely to cost about $8 million. But in the long run, $13 million will be a small price to pay for years of kids (and adults) being able to kick and hit balls there. The park’s opening deserves to be a big event when it is ready.