Community sports groups get a boost

Paul Clinton

A city recreation commission tentatively approved $138,000 in federal

funds to improve the city’s fields, baseball diamonds and a high school

pool.

At its May 8 meeting, the Community Services Commission recommended

the City Council approve the awards, from a $1.1 million pot of federal

block-grant funds. The council is set to consider the awards on June 3.

By doling out federal funds to partially pay for these community

projects, city officials say they can increase local ownership of them.

The approach allows the city to participate in projects driven by

community activists.

“The whole purpose is if the city goes out and makes these

improvements, we have to pick up the entire tab,” Community Services

Director Ron Hagan said. “We get more bang for the buck doing it this

way.”

The commission handed the largest amount, $28,000, to AYSO Region 143

for the renovation of the soccer and baseball field at Robinwood Park.

The commission also gave $20,000 each to the Huntington Beach High

School Foundation and the Sea View Little League.

Foundation leaders said they would use their grant to help pay for

lighting at Huntington Beach High School. The foundation has launched a

$100,000 project to improve lighting at the pool, so it could be used

during evening hours.

The pool’s new hours would be 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week,

said Foundation President Sylvia Garret.

“I’m pleased and elated,” Garret said about the grant. “The whole

purpose is to extend the time the pool is available.”

The commission also gave $20,000 to Sea View to help build a new

baseball field at the closed LeBard School.

Two $17,000 grants were awarded to Huntington Beach girls’ softball

and the Marina High School girls outdoor sports.

The softball team plans to use the money for improvements to the

fields at Circle View Elementary School. The Marina High School group has

said it will replace unsafe fencing and add brick dust to the high

school’s existing fields.

In addition, the commission handed $18,000 -- in separate $15,000 and

$3,000 pieces -- to the South Coast Soccer Club. The youth soccer group

has said it will use the larger chunk on funding for additional lighting

at Edison High School. The smaller portion of the grant will be put

toward removing the backstop at Dwyer Middle School and replacing it with

two smaller backstops.

The final two grants were given to the Huntington Valley Little

League, whose officials have said they’ll use their $13,000 to help

replace unsafe fencing on a field at Wardlow School, and to the

Huntington Beach High baseball boosters. The boosters plan to use their

$5,000 to install permanent fencing at the high school’s freshman

baseball field.

One group who applied for funding was denied. The commission decided

not to give $12,000 to the Friends of Huntington Harbour to restore

tennis courts at Harbour View School. That item will be considered again

at a later date.