Athletics fields under spotlight

The city of Costa Mesa could eventually add lights to four athletic fields at the Farm Sports Complex, under a plan the parks and recreation commission will explore next week.

More lighted fields would help ease scheduling problems caused by high demand for field time. But so far there’s no money to pay for more lights, which could cost as much as $400,000 to $500,000 per field, or up to $2 million for all four fields.

Two fields at the Farm have lights for nighttime practice and play. The parks and recreation commission on Thursday will discuss a proposal to light the remaining four fields.

“Our youth programs keep growing and we are in a very tenuous situation in terms of being able to serve everyone,” parks and recreation commission chairman Byron De Arakal said.

Some school fields may be out of commission during improvements paid for by Measure F, the $282-million school-facilities bond issue Newport-Mesa voters approved in November, De Arakal said.

“If we don’t do something quickly, we’re going to be starting to deny youth athletic groups,” he said.

In fact, the city already had to deny practice time to a youth soccer league. The game season for AYSO Region 120 starts this month, but pre-season practices would have begun in February if the group could get time on lighted fields.

Residents who live near athletic fields are often worried about bright lights shining into their yards, but city public-services director Bill Morris said new technology has made lights less intrusive.

“We believe that if a new project was approved, the new lighting would be even more focused on the fields and [cause] less spillover into the neighborhoods,” he said.

Morris said a rough estimate for new lighting is as much as $500,000 per field and the work would take eight to 10 months to complete.

“In all likelihood, from a budget standpoint we’re only looking at lighting two additional fields at this time,” De Arakal said. He plans to ask the City Council to put money in the 2006-07 budget for lights.

Councilwoman Katrina Foley said she’s happy about the lighting proposal, though she may not be able to vote on it because she lives near the Farm. Her house borders a lighted field, but she has no complaints.

“Everyone has a different view on the lights and the use of the fields behind their homes,” she said. “It doesn’t bother our family at all.”