On Saturday, May 5, City Council Member David Ryu and the Department of Rec and Parks cut the ceremonial ribbons on two new athletic fields in Pan Pacific Park – one for soccer and one for baseball.
Mark Pampanin, Ryu’s communications deputy, said Ryu and his staff “have been invested in this project since the very first day he entered office” and that they “worked diligently with the Department of Recreation and Parks and the Parks Commission to ensure enough funding was available to make the fields the best they can be, include things like shade structures, bleachers, safe fencing, etc. and to make sure the process was moving and these fields were built as soon as possible.”
According to Pampanin, the soccer field (formerly just a dirt patch) is brand new…while the baseball field has been significantly upgraded.
Improvements to the baseball/softball field include:
- Improved drainage
- Refurbished field lighting
- Refurbished back stop
- Refurbished bases
- New 46,500 sq. ft lawn
- “Smart” irrigation system
- High fence along the perimeter of field
- Shade structures in dugout
And the new soccer field includes:
- Area that can be used for U10 (1), U8 (2), U6 (1), and NFL flag football fields (1)
- 42,500 sq. ft. of synthetic turf, with water-shedding features
- Trash receptacles (6)
- Sport and turf maintenance equipment storage bins (2)
- Sports field lighting
- Security lighting
- 35,000 sq. ft. of landscaping and irrigation (including 4 trees)
- Storm drainage
- Fence
- Bleachers with shade structure
- Electronic scoreboard
The projects were funded with $270,000 in Proposition K money and $2.6 million in “Quimby” funds (fees paid by area developers to help develop local green space).
“City parks are central to our health, happiness and to building community,” Ryu said in a statement about the project. “I am proud to have worked with the department and commission overseeing our parks to get these fields finished, and to continue working to make Pan Pacific Park the pride of Mid-City.”
Staff from the Dept. of Rec. and Parks, the Bureau of Engineering, and Mid City Community Council were also involved in the project, along with design consultant AHBE Landscape Architects.
Here are some more images from the fun day on Saturday. (All photos courtesy of CD4.)
