COSTA MESA : City OKs Sharing of Playing Fields

In an effort to provide more parks and open space in the community, the City Council has approved an agreement to share school fields with the Newport-Mesa Unified School District.

The agreement, approved unanimously Monday by the council, allows residents to use soccer fields, baseball diamonds and other sports facilities at Presidio Elementary, Davis Intermediate and Costa Mesa High.

In exchange, the city agreed to help maintain the fields and make necessary improvements. More than $250,000 has been set aside for the improvements in this year’s budget.

Under the terms of the agreement, the city can charge residents to recoup the costs, or it can accept volunteer labor from local youth sports organizations wanting to use the fields.

“It is a tremendous cooperative effort between two public agencies,” said Rick Pickering, assistant to the city manager.

In fact, the city is working out a service agreement with the Costa Mesa Little League, which may volunteer to mow the grass or perform other maintenance services.