Sports field plans going forward Sports field plans going forward (November 26, 2004)

$2 million funding still undecided
by Teresa C. Brown

A proposal that would transform nine acres at Donlon Elementary School into five sports fields sparked debate last Thursday and left the Parks and Recreation Commission members with a 4-to-1 approval of a project that does not have clear funding.

Four of the five commissioners supported a basic improvement design that was contingent upon the project not diverting funds from other parks capital improvement projects. The city and school district would share the expense, with the city shouldering two-thirds of the $2 million price tag.

Commissioner Karen Ellgas voted against the proposal. Ellgas approved a 60-40 percent cost share with the school district paying 40 percent, but withdrew her support when that percentage split was changed to 66.6 and 33.3.

The improvement to the school's field would include creating two Little League-sized baseball fields, and one middle school-sized and two high school-sized soccer fields, Warren McClung of RRM Design Group told the commissioners.

In addition to the fields, dugouts and chain link backstops, bleachers, soccer goals, concrete storage pads and two storage buildings would also be installed on the field.

The commissioners struggled with the project because it currently does not have funding. Two school liaison committee members asked about making major improvements at the school site for sports groups, said Jim Wolfe, director of Parks and Community Services.

In April, the City Council approved spending $30,000 on design drawings and an estimate by RRM; in May, the Council listed the Donlon school field project as one of its highest priority projects for 2004-05.

Part of the proposal, which was not approved, was a soil upgrade project and path and shade trees. The commissioners wrestled with including those upgrades, which potentially could have increased the project cost by an additional $1.8 million.

The soil project included excavating the entire field 1-foot deep and installing sub-drainage and importing new top soil, McClung said.

The soil upgrade was considered because of the current soil's poor quality, which is similar to that at nearby Val Vista Park, 7350 Johnson Drive. "I think the soil out there is pretty lousy," said city landscape architect Mike Fulford. "We didn't just excavate the surface soil (at Val Vista)." He explained that they excavated the entire park and imported soil from Manteca.

School neighbors attending two meetings about the project had concerns about traffic and parking, Wolfe said, and a 6-foot fence was proposed along Payne Road and Denker Drive.

Donlon's principal Marc Schweitzer also likes the idea of a fence for security purposes, Wolfe said, adding that he was now hearing from more neighbors who do not support having fences.

"From a staff level, we don't have strong feelings either way. We're just reacting to the neighbors," Wolfe said.

As part of the recommendation approval for City Council, the commission voted to defer the fencing issue.

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