City staff, user groups find temporary playfields sites
AYSO will need practice fields
By Kara Chalmers
In response to a request from the Saratoga City Council, city staff has reinvestigated whether there is any more available land in or near the city for playfields, and the answer is--surprisingly--yes.
The playfields issue centers on the shortage in Saratoga of grassy land that is flat, a requirement for baseball and soccer fields. In addition, Congress Springs Park, which has five of the city's playfields, will undergo a major renovation this year. The $1.2 million project involves redesigning the layout of the park's fields. One goal of the renovation is to get as many playfields as possible from the fields there now, and another goal is to make the old and uneven fields safer.
The construction that is tentatively set to begin at the 10-acre park in December, and last until August 2001, will affect the user groups' seasons. The American Youth Soccer Organization and Saratoga Little League and Pony League--the users of the playfields at the park--need alternate sites to use for practice during the renovation at Congress Springs Park.
For Little League, this is not expected to be a huge problem, said Cary Bloomquist, the city staff liaison to the Parks and Recreation Commission, even though the league's 2001 season may have to be shortened due to the construction.
For AYSO, the organization's needs for practice fields during the 2000-2001 season will only be met if the city can secure more sites.
In their quest, city staff contacted all the school districts that serve Saratoga residents, religious organizations, service clubs, businesses, and other public and private groups. According to Bloomquist, almost all the groups said their facilities were being used to capacity.
Working together, the city and AYSO have procured five additional field sites all within the city limits.
One site is at the Mormon Church, two are at El Quito Park, one is at Wildwood Park and one at Beauchamps Park. In addition, two sites might be available at De Anza College.
City staff is also researching four field sites at the Christa McAuliffe Elementary School in the Cupertino Union School District, and four sites at Country Lane School in the Moreland School District. The two schools are expected to respond once this school year gets underway.
Bloomquist said that if the city can secure the sites at the Christa McAuliffe School and Country Lane, it will be able to meet AYSO's practice fields needs for the 2000 season.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
