Sports complex plan divides City Council - Pasadena Star-News

SOUTH PASADENA - The way Councilman Mike Ten sees it, $100,000 isa small investment for the right to use South Pasadena High School'snew state-of-the-art track, field and sports complex, whichofficially opened Friday.

Ten has suggested the city pay that amount to the South PasadenaUnified School District, which spent nearly $3 million renovatingthe school's track and field.

The funding would be contingent upon whether the city and theschool district can work out an agreement that would allow the cityto use the facility during non-school hours, Ten said.

The idea, however, has not gone over well with some councilmembers. And school district officials have been thus far 'hesitantto put anything to paper,' Ten said.

Ten said the contribution would give the city a valid claim tothe state-of-the-art facility, which it could then use for programslike jogging classes and events like the fourth of July fireworksshow and the annual Relay for Life cancer walk.

He cited other groups around the San Gabriel Valley that havecontributed to the district in exchange for use the new facilities,including the Polytechnic School in Pasadena, which provided$10,000.

'Pasadena Poly could have more of a claim to the track than wewould,' Ten said. 'Why shouldn't the city participate?'

But Mayor Michael Cacciotti said Ten's suggestion doesn't makesense, given that South Pasadena is facing about $100 million inoverdue repairs to its deteriorating infrastructure.

Others, including former Mayor Harry Knapp, say spending $100,000for use of the track sends a wrong message to voters, who will beasked on Nov. 6 to approve a 3 percent utility tax.

The tax would raise about $1.3million a year, with at least65percent going toward infrastructure repairs. Knapp, who wrote theargument in favor of the tax in the city's voter guide, said hecould not justify it if officials turn around and spend thousands ona nonessential item.

Unlike the city, the school district has a foundation that hasraised millions of dollars on its behalf, he said.

'It would be great if the city had that kind of volunteerorganization that could raise that kind of coin for the city,' Knappsaid.

Councilman Richard Schneider said he was 'unalterably opposed' toTen's idea. But the other four members appear to support it.

'We forget how much value we have in this town because of theschools,' said Councilman David Sifuentes, adding the council should'set aside 'our team versus their team' - the school board versusthe City Council.'

Councilman Philip Putnam said he might consider contributing - ifthe city can secure a long-term agreement with the districtguaranteeing it the right to use the track.

'That would be worth something we can pay for,' he said.

The school district's initial cost- estimate for the trackfacility was $1.9 million. But additional costs, particularly forthe track's turf, have pushed the price tag to $2.6million. That'snot counting another $300,000 needed to complete the project'ssecond phase - construction of permanent visitors bleachers and arenovated baseball field.

School board member Don Eggleston noted that other districts keeptheir fields and facilities closed after school hours. The district,however, spent millions, in part so that the community also couldenjoy South Pasadena High's new amenities.

City staff is now working on a formal joint-use agreement for thetrack. The matter is expected to come back to the council inDecember.

cortney.fielding@sgvn.com

Cost plays into feasibility of Monroeville sports complex - Tribune-Review/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

With an array of existing amenities that includes a largecommunity park, walking trails and a swimming pool, Monroeville ispoised to add another recreational resource -- a sports complex.

A group of council members is working with the municipality'sparks and recreation department to determine the feasibility ofleasing or buying the former Monroeville Sports Center off MacBethDrive.

Monroeville's recreation programs need more space, according toThird Ward Councilman Ron Harvey, a member of the parks andrecreation committee.

'We get residents calling us saying they lost a facility becauseschool programs need practice,' Harvey said. 'I'm not trying to slamthe school district, but their facilities must go to them first.'

A new building likely would be out of the question because of thecost, Harvey said.

Giving people somewhere to play sports such as dek hockey,basketball and volleyball in an existing facility, he said, wouldhinge on making it self-sufficient.

It could give municipal employees a place to exercise, makingthem healthier and perhaps giving the municipality a break on health-insurance costs.

'It may, in the long run, pay for itself,' Harvey said.

Uses could expand to include arts and crafts, dance classes, fineart programs and painting, said John Balicki, parks and recreationdirector for Monroeville.

'There are so many adult programs we can't address,' he said. 'Ona personal level, I feel bad because the No. 1 health epidemic inour country is inactivity. Obesity is a result of inactivity.'

Council discussed an indoor pool inside a recreational facilitywhen it planned the community park, according to Second WardCouncilman Dave Kucherer, but the price tag got in the way.

Montgomery OKs plans for Stuart Sports Complex - The Beacon News - Aurora (IL)

MONTGOMERY — Plans for the Stuart Sports Complex are closer to reality after a unanimous vote by the Village Board.

The Fox Valley Park District has been in the planning stages for the Stuart complex expansion for the past few years. Recently revised plans for the facility sport a price tag of $8.6 million, and call for soccer fields, lighted baseball and softball fields, a dog park, playgrounds, walking trails and other amenities.

"What about areas that won't require a fee for the public?" asked Stan Bond.

He said the public would like to have access to open areas for general recreation. "Is there gong to be a place to fly a kite?" he asked.

"We will have those open spaces and are working on plans for general use," said Jeff Palmquist, director of planning, development and grants with the Park District.

Palmquist said in the winter those spaces may be used for cross-country skiing.

In other action this week, trustees raised several questions about village zoning requirements in relation to the new Gray's Mill restaurant at 211 N. River St.

Gray's Mill was seeking a special use ordinance that allows the establishment to serve alcohol during outside events.

The restaurant along the Fox River will have a bar that overlooks the water as well as a special outdoor tent for wedding and banquet receptions.

Under a recent village ordinance, the owners would have to install a bike rack outside the restaurant. The owner of Gray's Mill, Tim Ivers, told trustees he would do whatever they want him to do.

Trustees questioned the current requirement for bike racks at new businesses.

"All new developments in the village require bicycle racks to comply with zoning," said Michael Brown, village planner.

The requirement has been in place since January 2007. Jamie Belongia, assistant to the village manager, said the issue was raised when the village made the decision to be greener and promote pedestrian friendly areas.

"Do we want to look at this policy?" Mayor Marilyn Michelini asked. "This community has a history of supporting bicycles."

Brown said the ordinance requires bicycle racks but doesn't specify how large or how many spaces are needed to comply. He said bike racks for one to two bicycles can be purchased for as little as $24 to $100.

Volunteers Bring Naches Sports Complex to Life - Yakima Herald-Republic

If you want to get something done, do it yourself.

That's just what a group of volunteers did in the town of Naches,population 715. They proposed a regional park to be called theClemans View Park and Sports Complex, and then built two baseballfields relying almost entirely on donated labor and equipment in twoyears.

'Here's a project that is working, it isn't falling flat. We'regoing to have kids playing there this spring,' said Joe Holman,treasurer for Upper Valley Sports and Recreation Association basedin Naches. The nonprofit group formed in early 1999.

Two more baseball fields should be completed by this spring,possibly in time for Little League baseball opening day.

The association has already remodeled the former Boot and SpurClubhouse, adding a stage, a fireplace and wraparound deck. At timesthe volunteers, headed by Jeff Ranger, a seasonal worker for theNaches ranger district, worked by the light of their automobileheadlights.

The association has estimated that its ambitious project willhave a $500,000 price tag, but Holman said the group thinks it canget the job done with volunteers and donations.

This summer, the fearless volunteers will begin work on:

-- two tennis courts;

-- an adult soccer field and two youth soccer fields, which couldalso be used for football;

-- a concession stand with restrooms;

-- a parking lot;

-- a small paved trail similar to the Yakima Greenway's paths,following the course of the Naches River;

-- picnic tables.

The trail and picnic tables may not be typical ball parkfeatures, but Holman said they will be important to this park.

'This is the gateway to the Yakima Valley if you are coming fromthe west side. This shows what the Yakima Valley is all about,' hesaid.

During the summer, the association will develop the tennis courtsand soccer fields on The Boot and Spur Club, which disbanded in 1999and donated the 18-acre plot of land, the former rodeo grounds justsouth of Naches off Highway 12.

Donors, such as Superior Asphalt & Concrete Co. of Yakima, havealready offered to donate materials and equipment for a parking lot.Coca Cola of Yakima donated scoreboards.

The association will raise money through clubhouse rentals andoffer the ball fields for regional sports events, as well as UpperValley Youth, the local Little League.

Much has been accomplished, but much remains to be done,association members say. Holman cautioned the project still needsvolunteers and donations. Work on the project resumes in February,and the target date to finish is next fall.

Dean Patterson, a county planner, said that the baseball fields,which are set on a 13-acre parcel, were approved in late 1999.Although the planning department attached a dozen conditions, that'sa good sign, Patterson said.

Sports Complex In Boston Has It All - Except Name - Chicago Sun-Times

BOSTON The new arena that will replace the storied Boston Gardenis almost done. Its roof arches across the city skyline, and itsinterior is being fitted with all the amenities of a modern sportscomplex.

Only one thing's missing: a name.

It was supposed to be called Shawmut Center; 15,000 seat numbertags already were emblazoned with the name and the profile of aShawmut Indian leader, Chief Obbatinewat, at a cost of $18,000.

That's now unlikely. Fleet Financial Group announced last weekthat it will buy the arena's owner, Shawmut National Bank. Includedin the $3.7 billion price tag were the rights to name the building.

GIULIANI WANTS CITY SPORTS COMPLEX.(SPORTS) - Albany Times Union (Albany, NY)

Byline: Associated Press

NEW YORK -- Mayor Rudolph Giuliani on Thursday proposed the city develop a sprawling sports, convention and entertainment complex that would bring into the same neighborhood a domed football stadium, a new Madison Square Garden and the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

The mayor described the proposal as an economic engine that would bring new vitality to the largely underdeveloped area on Manhattan's West Side, as well as an opportunity to lure back the New York Jets, the football team that left for the Meadowlands in New Jersey years ago.

Details were sketchy. The mayor didn't put a price tag on the project or set a date when it might be built, and provided only a vague outline on how the development would be funded, apparently through a combination of public and private dollars.

He also alluded only generally to how the land could be acquired.

If completed, he boasted it would become a stage for huge concerts, major sporting events and conventions, lucrative business that New York now often loses to cities with domed stadiums and big convention centers.

``What you would see in development in this whole area would pay for this many, many times over,'' the mayor said in his annual address to the City Council. ``This would become the most famous sports facility in the world.''

The proposal comes at a time when the city has been negotiating new stadiums with baseball's New York Yankees and Mets. The Mets plan to stay in Queens, but Giuliani has faced some of his toughest criticism over his openness to the possibility of moving the Yankees out of the Bronx.

DEMOGRAPHICS LURE GIANT SPORTS COMPLEX TO GREENBRIER AREA.(CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER) - The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA)

Byline: Staff reports

When Chesapeake residents want to dine, shop, watch a movie or playminiature golf and video games, all they have to do is cruise the Greenbrier area.

Merchants, lured by thousands of young families choosing Greenbrier homes, offer a variety of ways for entertainment-seekers to while away time.

Bowling, ice skating, billiards and laser games soon will join the list.

Allan B. Harvie Jr., a Richmond businessman, announced this week that he plans to build a sports complex that will include two ice-skating rinks and a 32-lane bowling alley.

One of the ice rinks will be Olympic size, 200 feet by 100 feet, the other will be National Hockey League size, 200 feet by 85 feet.

Fun-seekers will be able to play tag with high-tech lasers, or play pool on one of 12 billiard tables. There will be a lounge, a 4,000-square-foot arcade center, a soft-play area for kids, a nursery, a fitness center, meeting rooms and party rooms.

There will be a professional team locker room, because Harvie hopes to entice the Hampton Roads Admirals hockey team to use his complex for practices.

All told, the complex will be 96,000 square feet and will cost $6.5 million.

The project is to be constructed in two phases. The first phase, which includes one of the ice rinks, will get underway within two months. It's scheduled to be finished in late August.

Construction on phase two, which includes the second ice rink and the bowling alleys, will begin early next year and be finished by the summer of 1997.

In a news release, Harvie said he chose Greenbrier for the same reason other merchants have.

``This area of Chesapeake is rapidly becoming a major shopping and entertainment center for the Tidewater resident,'' he said.

Other recent additions to the fast-growing Greenbrier section include Circuit City and Regal Cinemas Funscape, also an entertainment complex. Several shopping centers are under construction now.

Harvie estimates that his center will employ more than 180 full- and part-time workers.